The Peace of Christ in the Thousand Years

People think that if they have the peace of God, they have the ability to be perfectly tranquil and loving, no matter what others do to them, or experiences they endure…

They think the era of peace, to come, shall be full of individuals who smile at each other benignly, and bow placidly, when they meet…

They think they will be devoid, in a sense, of any emotion except contentment, and will talk politely of the mysteries of Heaven…

Ha!

That is not true peace.

True peace, the peace of God, is not this. Rather, it is the ability to receive, from God, whatever reality, emotion, or experience He wishes to send.

Whether it is wrath, or terror, or weeping, or rejoicing, or despondency, or purpose…

Whether it is desire, or glory, or singing, or joy…

Whether the mouth is filled with sweetness or the stomach with bitterness….

Whether the heart is pierced by a sword or the body moved by the Spirit….

There is no distinction, in God, between ANY of these experiences, for he generates them all, and has created all, to reflect the aspects of Him. And the Peace of God shall teach us to abide in each: with equal holiness, and equal receptivity.

For it shall no longer be us who stir ourselves, but God who stirs within us.

The Peace of God surpasses understanding, and moves us to speech or to silence, to action or to paralysis, to sight or to blindness, as the Lord wills.

It moves us to chastise or to compassionate, to pray aloud or to meditate, to work or to play.

It teaches us to be attached or detached, hungry or full, rich or poor.

“I have learned to be content in all circumstances,” says Paul, who was content even in anger or pain or sorrow!

With this peace, we speak love over our neighbor, and we learn that love is admonishing the sinner just as much as it is drawing the orphan to our chest.

Love is the wrath of God. God is not moved out of His peace when He chastises Israel. There is no distinction between the angry God of the Old Testament, and the Docile God of the New. Both are one, for all realities come from God, and return to God, and His Peace surpasses understanding!

The Peace of the world has been reduced to benign placidity… but the peace of God is a powerful spirit, and it directs us to ALL realities, and abides in all things.