Peace is a Realm, and It Has a Prince
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)
I’ve heard several of the classic Christmas carols recently that refer to Jesus as the Prince of Peace. That title is certainly not new to me, but this year it struck me: princes rule over realms. Michael Jackson was dubbed the Prince of Pop and presided over pop music in his heydey. The Prince of Darkness…well, darkness is the realm he reigns over. So then, if Jesus is the Prince of Peace, peace must be a realm.
I’m not talking about heaven, that lofty by-and-by where all sorrows and sighing flee away. I’m talking about a realm that we have access to right now – if we can understand that peace and cessation from all trouble are not the same thing.
Jesus said it this way: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27) Now, the world can give you peace, for a few moments or hours, by means of a favorite song or TV show, a hobby or recreational drug or _________. But the world is bound by time and circumstance, so its peace has shallow roots and cannot last.
Jesus is not bound by time or circumstance. That’s why his peace isn’t like the world’s. He had peace because he could see the eternal perspective, the larger view high above our light and momentary troubles. His peace emanated from his intimate relationship with the Father in the eternal now.
Peter could speak of a “peace that passes understanding” because our minds don’t naturally understand how to be at peace if things aren’t going our way. Jesus’ peace isn’t chained to what is happening to us at any given moment; he does not give as the world gives. Peace is not an emotion; it is a perspective and a state of being. It is a realm.
About this time last year I wrote about Christmas being a time for stillness. That is still true, and stillness is an excellent way to tap into the peace that lives in our spirits because of Jesus. You see, it’s not a far-off peace that comes down to us. It’s a peace that has already been deposited in us. Peace is a realm, and that realm exists inside us.
So, peace to you at Christmas time, and every other time as well.
Quick Start Guide to Centering Prayer
This short guide gives you the essentials for learning to be still and quiet before God so you can hear his voice and feel his love in a deeper way.
