Where Is Peace Found?
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Key Verse: “The same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where for the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.” Selected Scriptures: |
GENERATIONS COME AND generations go, while the earth endures forever. The sun rises and the sun goes down; back it returns to its place and rises there again. People are searching for a purpose in life that brings them peace. How can we find the meaning and peace in life for which we search? It is our human nature to seek meaning and peace, but Solomon—the writer of Ecclesiastes—implies we might not find it in our lifetime. He says riches do not bring contentment or comfort of mind. They can pass away leaving a man without anything, just as he came into the world. Adopting the right attitude and instead of worrying about material things, he recognizes that God has given him what he has and enjoys it with contentment.—Eccles. 5:10-20
The Scriptures affirm that we find meaning and peace in life when we receive the Spirit of Christ Jesus. “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” (chap. 12:7) Every part of man, both his body and his breath, at death returns to its original condition. This leaves each one who has died exactly as before he was born, except that he is remembered by God and will be restored to life in the resurrection. Therefore, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.”—chap. 9:10
In John’s Gospel, we find recorded the gathering together of Jesus’ disciples after his death. “After eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”—John 20:26-31
In the above words, and those of our Key Verse, we notice the words of Jesus, ‘Peace be unto you.’ Jesus realized his disciples were no doubt confused as to the events of recent days. It was therefore necessary that they first find peace of mind and spirit before attempting to understand the details of why these things had occurred. Such peace could only be realized in a renewal of their faith in Jesus as their master.
Solomon concludes his writings of Ecclesiastes with an admonition that is as true and relative in our day as it was during his time. He says, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”—Eccles. 12:13,14