The prophet here gives us, in a few words, a graphic picture of an unsaved person; like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. Like the tempestuous sea, which lashes our shores after a storm, always in motion, its surface does not present the same aspect for one moment. Men run after the various pleasures and pursuits of society, always changing, and intended to offer some new feature of enjoyment to fill up the unsatisfied cravings of the human heart. But these waters cast up mire and dirt, ―out of the heart proceed all kinds of evil, ―evil thoughts leading on to evil acts. There is the eager pursuit of wealth, position, pleasure, and ever-changing politics, but no peace; real peace is foreign to this world. How could there be peace, since there is nothing within to give it, and without all is changing and uncertain, and the unconverted man is like the chaff before the wind, driven about by every breeze.
As for the ungodly, even the way of peace they have not known. But then nothing is more dangerous than false peace. Thousands around us in this world are resting in a false peace, based on an unsound foundation. Like a man trying to cross a huge chasm on a rotten plank, they are passing from time into eternity, trusting to their own works or doings, while Satan is quietly whispering into their ear, “Peace, peace,” but there is no peace. “They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, “Peace, peace; when there is no peace” (Jer. 6:1414They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. (Jeremiah 6:14), and 8:11). “Because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace, and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and lo! others daubed it with untampered mortar” (Ezek. 13:1010Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered mortar: (Ezekiel 13:10)).
Have you had your wound of sin “slightly healed”? Just as though a physician came to a patient suffering from a severe wound, and simply covered it over with ointment, which gave a temporary relief from the pain, instead of probing the wound deeply, going to the root of the disease, and supplying the true remedy. The sufferer would thus be deceived, and only awake up to the terrible character of his mistake when too late. Are you like a wall built up for the eye of men, and daubed over with untempered mortar?
The forms and ceremonies of religion are like the salve covering the wound, or the untempered mortar, they cover over the unsound parts below, serve to smother the appeals of conscience where it is at all aroused, and to lull the victim to a sleep, only to wake up in a lost eternity, to find out he was deluded by an empty sham. The first blast of judgment will shatter to pieces all such refuges of lies, and all man’s righteousnesses will then be shown to be, in God’s sight, only a covering of filthy rags.
But is there no true peace? Is there no resting-place for the weary, sin-burdened soul? Let us see what God has said about this. His word is settled forever in heaven. “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed” (Isa. 53:55But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)). Here we see One who was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, and on whom the chastisement of our peace was laid, for” the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” It is not here, “healed slightly”; no, Christ has stood in the sinner’s place, borne the judgment due to him; nothing is covered up, but God has laid all his sins on this blessed Substitute who was “smitten” in his stead on Calvary’s cross, and thus by His stripes I am “healed,” fully, effectually healed, according to all God’s holy requirements. Now, we can understand how it is that what appeared so opposite before, can be together. “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other” (Psa. 85:1010Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. (Psalm 85:10)). All have found their meeting-place in the person of a crucified Christ. God is righteous, and yet He can, on the ground of this accomplished work, bring the believer into perfect peace in His presence, and this ill the most absolute consistency with His righteousness too.
The Lord Jesus has “made peace by the blood of his cross” (Col. 1:2020And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. (Colossians 1:20)). And if He has made this peace, why should you strive or try to make your peace with God? It would be simply to deny that thy work is finished. No, God has accepted that blood as a full, complete settlement of every question; and you have only to accept, not to earn, the peace which He is now offering. It cost Him His lifeblood, it costs us nothing, but as lost and guilty sinners we accept it. When He had finished the atoning work of the cross, had burst asunder the chains of death, and had risen as the victor from the grave, what is the first word with which He greets His disciples? “Peace unto you” (John 20:1919Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. (John 20:19)). This was the peace which a risen and victorious Christ, who had met and overcome Satan, death, and judgment, borne the awful wrath of God against sin, and was now risen clear of it all, could bring others into. The work has been done, the basis has been laid in the blood of His cross, death and judgment have been overcome; the cup of God’s holy wrath against sin drained to the dregs, and now the believer is justified by simple faith in Him, and has perfect peace with God. Have you got this peace? It is not to be had by efforts, or to be assured to our souls by looking within for feelings, but by simple faith in a crucified and risen Christ. This peace never changes, inasmuch as the ground on which it rests never varies, it is entirely outside of ourselves, our feelings, &c. God’s full satisfaction has been proved by the fact that the One who “made peace” on the cross is now on the throne. He Himself is our peace (Eph. 2:1414For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; (Ephesians 2:14)).
But there is another peace on which we must say a word before closing, to any who have got the peace above referred to. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you” (John 14:2727Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27)). Here the Lord Jesus Christ, just on the eve of His departure out of this world, addresses these words to His disciples. He leaves us “peace,” and brings us into the enjoyment of His “peace,”―that peace which flowed from perfect obedience, carrying out His Father’s will in everything, and taking everything from Him. What rest it would give, in a world of strife and unrest, to have God thus before us in everything, bringing Him in between us and our troubles and troublers. He does not hide from us the path of tribulation in the world, but He is with us in it, and encourages by His word, ― “Take courage, I have overcome the world.” And now to look forward for a moment into eternity. For the lost it will be an ETERNITY of unrest, ―no rest, no peace in hell. Hear the words spoken by the Saviour Himself, as the utterances of the rich man: “Send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame” (Luke 16:2424And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. (Luke 16:24)). And again, “Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:4848Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. (Mark 9:48)).
F. G. B.