Peace Like A River

Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you are called in one body; and be thankful.

There are many things to worry about today.  At the top of the list currently is the crisis of the Covid19.  How long will it last?  What about my health, and my job, and my future?  What about my family, friends, and loved ones?  For Paul to suggest that we let the peace of God rule seems a little extreme…or maybe it’s not.  Maybe it is the right thing to do. Maybe it is absolutely necessary.  Maybe it is our only hope.  But what does that look like if I let the peace of God rule in my heart? For me personally, it means practicing what I preach.  For all of us who are believers it means living out what we believe. 

We need to retreat….not to a beach or to the mountains or to a condo…but to our prayer closet.  We need to run and retreat to a place where we can fall on our knees, and perhaps our faces, and cry out to God.  We need a retreat where we hide out from the world for a couple of hours…..Where we can come into His presence and allow everything else to fade away.  We need peace.  We need the Lord.  

We need peace like a river.  Remember that song?  Peace like a river makes me have thoughts that are soothing and serene.  Like drifting lazily down a slow-moving river on your pontoon or favorite fishing boat.  Soaking up the sun, wind in your face, cool drinks, into the evening hours watching the moon and stars light up the sky.  The picture is calm away from the chaos.  …Birds are chirping, the skies are blue, all is well, and you want to say things like, “It doesn’t get any better than this.”  

I want to change your imagery a little.  Not just peace like a river…but peace like the Mississippi River.  The Mississippi is no ordinary river. Like many of you, I have witnessed the power of the Mississippi River.  I have seen what happens when it chooses to flood everything in its path.  In that regard, think with me about a Peace that rules…as the verse says.  Peace that has its way regardless.  Peace that lets nothing stand in its way.  Peace that can flood our lives if allowed.  A Peace that is overwhelming.  A Peace that’s bigger and stronger than anything we face.

...This peace that rules, is the Peace of God which surpasses all our understanding.  When we see the Mississippi River overflowing its banks and consuming everything in sight.....That is a glimpse of what the Peace of God can do with all the heartache, trouble, worry and anxiety that attempts to stand in its way.   

Paul said, “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” The word “rule” in this verse is from the Greek word brabeuo, which in ancient times was used to describe the umpire or referee.  Paul uses this word to explain that the peace of God can work like an umpire or referee in our hearts, minds, and emotions. When emotions attempt to throw us into a frenzy, we can stop it by making the choice to let God's peace rule.  When we do, we are allowing God's peace, like an umpire or referee, to call “Time Out.” 

Col 3:15 could be translated:

“Let the peace of God call the shots in your life....”

“Let the peace of God be the umpire in your life and actions....”

“Let the peace of God act as referee in your emotions and your decisions....”

Imagine a referee standing in the middle of the field.  He has made the call even though most of the crowd disagrees with him.  Some are throwing cups and bottles onto the field.  Some are shouting obscenities.  Some are gathering their things and leaving in a rush.  But the referee’s word stands.  He won’t reverse his decision.  It’s done.  PEACE blows the whistle on chaos.  The peace of God that rules in our hearts has the final say.  

Friends, during this season of uncertainty you can be certain God is awake, alert, alive and well.  He is a good God in bad times.  The God on the mountain is still God in the valley.  We must practice what we have preached and live what we have believed.  Our hope is not in political parties. financial prosperity, or in influential people... Our hope is in the Lord.  May the peace of God rule in our hearts.