“Is it peace?” said Joram’s mounted messenger to Jehu, when, in the king’s name, he met him.
“What hast thou to do with peace?” was the stern reply. Judgment was at hand. Even while the two kings were fraternizing together the avenger was rapidly approaching―driving “furiously.” Moreover, a deadly arrow was in Jehu’s sheath, and his strong hand ready to give it aim and flight.
Then the king himself approaches and asks the question, “Is it peace?” The stern reply is ready, “What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?” (2 Kings 9:18, 22).
Is it peace with the unbeliever today? We may well answer in Jehu’s words, “What peace?” If he has any peace at all, it is only when he is able to forget the things of eternity and shut his ears to God’s unmistakable warnings concerning the doom of the unpardoned sinner.
When he thinks of his dying hour, has he peace? No. For he knows that his sins are not pardoned, and that to die in his sins is to be banished from Christ’s presence forever. “Ye shall die in your sins [said the Lord to the unbelievers of His day]: whither I go, ye cannot come” (John 8:21).
When he thinks of the Lord’s coming, has he peace?
No. For he knows that no unbeliever will be “caught up.” by the Lord’s power to meet Him in the air. No unbeliever has the Spirit of God dwelling in his heart: no unbeliever has oil in his vessel. Only those who are “Christ’s” will be caught up at His coming. And listen to His solemn words, “Ye believe not, because ye are not of My sheep” (John 10:26). Outside the door will be the unbeliever’s place.
When he thinks of the resurrection of the just, has lie peace? No. He knows that he would be left in his grave to await the resurrection of the unjust—all who have died in their sins will be raised in their sins (Rev. 20:6-12).
When he thinks of the day of judgment, has he peace? No. For well he knows that the open books will bring to light two condemning indictments―a lifetime of sin against God and the willful neglect of salvation through Christ, though brought right to him and pressed upon him in the gospel, times without number. He is fully aware, also, that the inevitable sequel to the great white, throne for every unbeliever will be the lake of fire for eternity. Thus it is written: “The fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whore-mongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake of fire which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” (Rev. 21:8).
Oh, unbeliever, what hast thou to do with peace? If thou thinkest thou hast peace, we would earnestly, tenderly challenge thee to answer Jehu’s question, “What peace?” While Christ is rejected and thy sins are unpardoned, WHAT PEACE?
Believers in a triumphant Saviour, what say ye? Is it peace? YES. “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”