It is not uncommon—while trying to rebuke or admonish someone concerning their spiritual condition—to have them reply with this statement: “I’m at peace with my God.” Just recently we got this reply from a fella who left the Lord’s church and joined a denomination. Not long ago a Christian, after admitting his homosexual lifestyle, used the same defense. Apparently these folks think that this feeling of “peace” is the absolute standard by which their conduct should be judged. They could not be more wrong!

 

In ancient Judah, the prophet Jeremiah bemoaned the unfaithfulness of God’s people. One of the great problems was that they were oblivious to their lost condition. This was largely due to the fact that “from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace;’ when there is no peace.” (Jer. 6:13,14) Do you see it? They believed they were at peace with God. Their religious leaders even told them that there was peace with God. But in reality, there was no peace.

 

People today, like those in Jeremiah’s day, are deceived into thinking that they are at peace with God even as they continue in their rebellion against Him. False teachers contribute to the problem with “good words and fair speeches that deceive the hearts of the simple.” (Rom. 16:18)

 

The only true basis for peace with God is in humble obedience to His will. The apostle Paul urged: “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” (Philippians 4:9) Faith and obedience produce true peace. Anything other than that is simply the deception of subjective feelings. Think! 

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Greg Gwin