Peace With God

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1-2)

          Now that Paul has thoroughly established that our justification comes through faith and not through law, the next question is, “What difference does it make?” or “So what?” In today’s passage, Paul tells us that one difference is that we have peace with God. Yes, here we go again – peace? What does that mean? 

         I’m not going to say that peace means nothing more than the absence of wrath, but the violation of the law brings wrath. If we are not justified, we face wrath. That suggests that there is at least a little value to considering that aspect of peace. How do you feel about having someone angry with you? It depends on the situation, of course, but in generally, having someone angry with you isn’t pleasant. Wrath is worse. That peace is the absence of wrath means the pressure is off. You don’t have a bullseye on your back. 

          One way that I think about this is in terms of natural disasters. I’m not saying that natural disasters are God’s wrath, but they make a good picture thereof. The south-eastern part of the U.S. can count on hurricanes. This year we have had two category 5s hit, and a third trying to make up its mind. The Midwest is known as “Tornado Alley.” We’re all just waiting for “the big one” to hit California and at least part of the state to fall into the Pacific. Alone the Pacific coast, there have been tsunamis. A few years back, Mt. Saint Helens blew her stack, and the devastation from that volcano is nothing compared to what will happen when the super-volcano that makes up a good chunk of Yellowstone National Park erupts, and the scientists tell us that we’re either due, or past due. There are a lot of places in this country where it’s really just not wise to live. 

         My home town is technically at the edge of Tornado Alley. We have endured the painful deaths of a few hurricanes. There is a fault beneath Lake Erie, and we have had a few tiny earthquakes (earth-shivers? earth-twitches? earth-hiccoughs?) Certainly, if the Yellowstone super volcano erupts, we would be caught in the fallout. We do get some impressive snow storms. My home town is not safe, but a few years back, it was included in the top ten safest cities to live in in the U.S. In comparison to other places, including where I spend half the year, it is safe. The sense of danger isn’t there in the same way. 

        This is an illustration (though perhaps not the best) of what it’s like to have peace with God. There’s a sense of safety. One doesn’t have to live with the question of when (not if) the next disaster is going to hit. They may be possible. You might have to take a glancing blow, but the certainty that next time may take everything just isn’t there. It lets you smile at the future.