Perfect Peace
The peace of God, which
surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ
Jesus. (Phil. 4:7)
When mariners describe a tempest that
no sailor can escape, they call it a perfect storm. Not perfect in the sense of
ideal, but perfect in the sense of a combination of factors. All the elements,
such as hurricane-force winds, a cold front, plus a downpour of rain, work
together to create the insurmountable disaster. The winds alone would be a
challenge. But the winds plus the cold plus the rain? The perfect recipe for a disaster.
But you don’t have to be a fisherman to experience a perfect storm. All you need
is a layoff plus a recession. A
disease plus a job transfer. A
relationship breakup plus a college
rejection. We can handle one challenge . . . but two or three at a time? One
wave after another; gale-wind forces followed by thunderstorms. It's enough to
make you wonder, Will I survive? Paul's
answer to that question is profound and concise. "The peace of God, which
surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ
Jesus." (Phil. 4:7)
When he penned the "be anxious
for nothing" paragraph, he’d recently endured a storm of his own on the
Mediterranean Sea. On his final recorded voyage, Paul was placed on a ship in
Caesarea destined for Italy. The ship enjoyed smooth sailing until they reached
Sidon. At the next stop, Myra, they changed ships. They were loaded onto a
large, Egyptian grain ship. About one hundred feet long, and weighing perhaps
more than a thousand tons, the ships were sturdy but engineered in such a way
that they did not sail well into the wind. So, it’s no surprise, with winter
fast approaching, that they reached nearby Cnidus with great difficulty. From
there they sailed south under the shelter of Crete until they reached the port
of Fair Havens, about halfway across the island. But the sailors didn't want to
stay in Fair Havens. They knew they couldn't reach Rome before winter, but
preferred the port of Phoenix. Paul tried to convince them otherwise, and they
had reason to listen to him because Paul was no stranger to storms at sea,
including shipwrecks. (2 Cor. 11:25) He knew the danger of a winter voyage and
issued a strong caution. But in the eyes of the captain, Paul was just a Jewish
preacher. So they weighed anchor and set sail for a better harbor. (Acts
27:1-12)
"But not long after, a
tempestuous head wind arose, called Euroclydon." (v. 14). What a great
word – a compound of the Greek term euros,
the east wind, and the Latin word aquilo,
the north wind. Some translations call this wind what it was, a nor’easter. The
temperature dropped. The sails whipped. The waves frothed. The sailors searched
for land and couldn't see it. They looked at the storm and couldn't avoid it.
The components of the perfect storm were gathering: a winter sea, a ferocious
wind, a cumbersome boat, an impatient crew. Individually, these elements were
manageable. But collectively? They were formidable. So the crew did what they
could. They hoisted the lifeboat aboard and frapped the vessel. They lowered
the sea anchor, jettisoned cargo, and threw equipment overboard. But nothing
worked. Verse 20 reads like a death sentence: "Now when neither sun nor
stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we
would be saved was finally given up." The perfect storm had taken its
toll. It lasted for fourteen days. (v. 27)
Fourteen hours would shake anyone. Maybe
even fourteen minutes. But two weeks of sunless days and starless nights?
Fourteen days of bouncing, climbing toward the heavens and plunging toward the
sea. The ocean boomed, splashed and rumbled. The sailors even lost their
appetite. And then they lost all reason for hope. They simply gave up. And when
they gave up, Paul spoke up. “Men, you should have listened to me, and not have
sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss. But now I urge you to
take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.’"
(v. 21-22)
What a contrast. The mariners, who
knew how to sail in storms, gave up all hope. Paul, a Jewish preacher, who
presumably knew very little about sailing, became the courier of courage. What
did he know that they didn't? Better question, what did he say that you may need
to hear? Because maybe you’re bouncing around in a nor’easter. Like the sailors,
you've done all you can to survive: you've tightened the ship, and lowered the
anchor. You've consulted the bank, changed your diet, called the lawyers,
called your supervisor and tightened your budget. You've gone for counseling,
rehab or therapy. Yet the sea churns away with its angry foam. Is fear coming
at you from all sides? Then let God speak to you. Let God give you what he gave
the sailors: perfect peace.
Paul first begins with a rebuke:
"Men, you should have listened to me." We don't like to be rebuked,
corrected, or chastened. Neither do our kids, but that doesn’t stop us from
doing what parents need to do when it’s appropriate. So, when we ignore God's
warnings, a scolding is in order for his kids, too. Are you in a storm of
anxiety because you didn't listen to God? He told you that the borrower is a
slave to the lender, but you took on the dangerous debt. He told you to cherish
your spouse and nourish your kids, but you cherished your career and nourished
your vices. He cautioned you about the wrong crowd, the strong drink and the
long hours. But you didn’t listen. And now you’re in a storm of your own
making. If this describes you, receive God's rebuke. He corrects those he
loves, and he loves you. So stand corrected. Confess your sin and resolve to do
better. Be wiser next time. Learn from your poor choices, but don't despair. Because
while this story contains one rebuke, it also contains three promises that can
give all of us peace in the middle of a storm.
The first promise is that heaven has
helpers to help you. Paul said, "There stood by me this night an angel." (Acts 27:23) On the deck
of a sinking ship in a raging storm, Paul received a visitor from heaven. An
angel came and stood beside him. Angels still do. "All the angels are
spirits who serve God and are sent to help those who will receive salvation."
(Heb. 1:14) The prophet Daniel experienced the assistance of angels. He was
troubled. He resolved to pray. And after three weeks, Daniel received an
answer. Curiously, the moment Daniel began praying, the answer had been issued,
but demonic forces blocked the pathway of the angel supplied with God’s
response. The impasse lasted a full three weeks until the archangel Michael
arrived on the scene with his superior authority. The standoff was ended, and
the prayer was answered.
Have your prayers been met with a
silent sky? Have you prayed and heard nothing? Are you floundering in the land
between an offered prayer and an answered prayer? If so, don't give up. What
the angel said to Daniel, God says to you: "Since the first day that you
set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God,
your words were heard." (Dan. 10:12) You’ve been heard in heaven. Angelic
armies have been dispatched. Reinforcements have been rallied. God promises,
"I will contend with him who contends with you." (Isa. 49:25) So do
what Daniel did – remain before the Lord.
The second promise is that heaven has
a place for you. Paul knew this. "For there stood by me this night an
angel of the God to whom I belong."
(Acts 27:23) When parents send their kids to summer camp, they have to sign
certain documents. One of the documents asks, “Who is the responsible party?”
If Johnny breaks his arm, or Suzie breaks out in measles, who will be responsible?
Hopefully, Mom and Dad are willing to sign their names. But God already has.
When you gave your life to him, he took responsibility for you. He guarantees
your safe arrival into his port. You are his sheep; he is your shepherd. Jesus
said, "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me."
(John 10:14) You are his child; he is your father. "You are no longer a
slave but God's own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his
heir." (Gal. 4:7) You can have peace in the midst of the storm because you’re
not alone; you are God’s.
And the third promise is that you’re in
the Lord’s service. "For there stood by me this night an angel of the God
to whom I belong and whom I serve."
(Acts 27:23) God had given Paul an assignment: carry the gospel to Rome. Paul
had not yet arrived at Rome, so God wasn’t finished with him. And since God wasn’t
finished, Paul knew that he would survive. Most of us don't have a clear
message like Paul's. But we do have the assurance that we will not live one day
less than we’re supposed to live. If God has work for you to do, he will keep
you alive to do it. "All the days planned for me were written in your book
before I was one day old." (Ps. 139:16) I'm not saying that you won’t have
any more problems in your future. Quite the contrary. Paul had his share, and
so will you. Look at verse 22: "And now I urge you to take heart, for
there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship." (Acts 27) That’s
a problem.
It’s not easy to lose your ship. Your
ship is the vessel that carries, sustains, protects and supports you. Your boat
is your marriage, your body, your business. Because of your boat, you've stayed
afloat. And now without your boat you think you’ll sink. And you’re right. You
will . . . for a while. Waves will sweep over you. Fear will suck you under
like a Pacific riptide. But take heart, says Paul. Take heart, says Christ:
"In this world you will have trouble, but be brave! I have defeated the
world." (John 16:33) You can lose it all, only to discover that you
haven't because God has been there all along. God has never promised a life without
storms. But he has promised to be in the storms when we face them.
Noah Drew can tell you that. He was
only two years old when he discovered the protective presence of Jesus. The
Drew family was making the short drive from their house to their neighborhood
pool, and Noah’s mom was driving so slowly that the automatic door locks didn’t
engage. Noah opened his door and fell out. Mom felt a bump, as if she had
driven over a speed bump, and braked to a quick stop. Noah’s dad jumped out of
the car and found Noah on the pavement. "He's alive!" Ben shouted and
placed him on the seat. Noah’s legs were covered in blood, and he was shaking
violently. Mom hurried over to the passenger's seat and held Noah on her lap as
dad drove to the ER. Incredibly, the tests showed no broken bones. A
five-thousand-pound vehicle had run over his legs, yet little Noah had nothing
but cuts and bruises to show for it.
Later that night Noah’s mom, Leigh
Anna, dropped to her knees and thanked Jesus for sparing her son. She then
stretched out on the bed next to him. He was asleep; or so she thought. As she
was lying beside him in the dark, he said, "Mama, Jesus catched me."
She said, "He did?" Noah replied, "I told Jesus thank you, and
he said you're very welcome." The next day he gave some details.
"Mama, Jesus has brown hands. He catched me like this." He held his
arms outstretched, cupping his little hands. The next day he told her that
Jesus has brown hair. When she asked him for more information, he said,
"That's all," in the nonchalant manner of a child. But when he said
his prayers that night, he said, "Thank you, Jesus, for catching me."
Nor’easters bear down on the best of
us. Contrary winds. Crashing waves. They all come. But Jesus still catches his
children. He still extends his arms. He still sends his angels. Because you
belong to him, you can have peace in the midst of the storm. The same Jesus who
sent the angel to Paul sends this message to you: "When you pass through
the waters, I will be with you." (Isa. 43:2) You may be facing the perfect
storm, but Jesus offers the perfect peace. His peace. Not just any peace, but
God’s peace – a peace that passes all understanding, since who can understand
the mind of God? (Rom. 11:34)
Grace,
Randy
Perfect Peace - Audio/Visual
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