'Give you peace always,' that points to perpetual, unbroken duration in
time, and through all changing circumstances which might threaten a less
stable and deeply-rooted tranquillity. And then, 'by all means,' as our
Authorised Version has it, or, better, 'in all ways,' as the Revised
Version reads, the reference being, not so much to the various manners
in which the divine peace is to be bestowed, as to the various aspects
which that peace is capable of assuming. Christ's peace, then, is
perpetual and multiform, unbroken, and presenting itself in all the
aspects in which tranquillity is possible for a human spirit.
It is possible, then, thinks Paul, that there shall be in our hearts a
deep tranquillity, over which disasters, calamities, sorrows, losses,
need have no power. There is no necessity why, when my outward life is
troubled, my inward life should be perturbed. There may be light in the
dwellings of Goshen, while darkness lies over all the land of Egypt. The
peace which Christ gives is no exemption from warfare, but is realised
in the midst of warfare. It is no immunity from sorrows, but is then
most felt when the storm of sorrow beating upon us is patiently
accepted. The rainbow steadfastly stands spanning the tortured waters of
the cataract. The fire may burn, like that old Greek fire, beneath the
water. The surface may be agitated, but the centre may be calm. It is
not calamity that breaks our peace, but it is the resistance of our
wills to calamity which troubles us. When we can bow and submit and say,
'Thy will be done,' 'it seemeth good to Thee, do as Thou wilt,' then
nothing can break the peace of God in our hearts. We seek in the wrong
quarter for peace when we seek it in the disposition of outward things
according to our wills. We seek in the right way when we seek it in the
disposition of our wills according to the will of the Father manifest in
our circumstances. There may be peace always, even whilst the storms,
efforts, and calamities of life are in full operation around us and on
us. That peace may be uninterrupted and uniform, extended on one high
level, as it were through all our lives. It is not so with us, dear
brethren; there are ups and downs which are our own fault. The peace of
God may be permanent, but, in order that it should be, there must be
permanent communion and permanent obedience.
Further, says the Apostle, Christ's peace will not manifest itself in
one form only, but in all the shapes in which peace is possible. There
are many enemies that beset this calmness of spirit; for them all there
is the appropriate armour and defence in the peace of God, I have
already enumerated in part some of the requirements for true and
permanent tranquillity of soul. All these are met in the peace of
Christ. Whatever it is that disturbs men, He has His anodyne that will
soothe. If circumstances threaten, if men array themselves against us,
if our own evil hearts rise up in rebellion, if our passions disturb us,
if our consciences accuse: for all these Christ brings tranquillity and
calm. In every way in which men can be disturbed, and in every way,
therefore, in which peace can be manifest, Christ's gift avails. 'Come
unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest.'