The Secret of True Peace

(1)  The world is full of troubled hearts. This is because of mankind's imperfection. Imperfection is due to sin and its penalty: death. Ever since the first sin of Adam in the Garden of Eden, death has been preying upon our race, impairing our mental and physical powers, as well as our conscience. It has brought us depravity, disappointment, sorrow and pain. If each of us only had his own burdens he would have too much for his strength. However, we are all in touch with others in life, in the home, in business, in society, in all of life's affairs. Each has his own's weaknesses and blemishes which are augmented and his troubles increased by his contact with the peculiarities of others, their troubles, blemishes and oddities. Well did the apostle Paul write: "The whole creation is groaning and travailing in pain together." Likewise Job exclaimed: "Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble." -- Romans 8:22; Job 14:1.

(2)  None know more respecting the burdens of life than do those whose very job is in a sphere of helping others. The groaning creation, suffering from its physical, mental, or personality deformities, turns to those whom they believe can help them: physicians, psychologists, religious counselors, attorneys, etc. From these it is hoped that they can gleam some relief. They seek some light of hope to shine upon their troubled souls. The aforementioned professions, therefore, are esteemed to be amongst the most honorable. If backed by sympathy and love they are sure to accomplish much good, to afford much relief, and to inspire new hopes. But, alas, very few physicians, very few lawyers, very few psychologists, and not many religious counselors are truly actuated by love and sympathy! Without judging them individually we are safe to suppose that they are much like the remainder of the race. These men and women possess the highest opportunities to bring relief to their fellow man. Yet they themselves are sharers in the same general selfishness that has developed in the hearts of men as part of the fruitage of sin. Because of sin all mankind, including those who would help their fellow man, has suffered partial destruction of the Divine likeness in which man was originally created -- a perfect image, in the flesh, of God -- the God of love, the God of grace. -- Genesis 1:26,27; Psalm 8:5-8; Romans 5:12; 1 John 4:8; 1 Corinthians 1:4.

"Gracious Words"

(3)  The disciples of Jesus had much reason to be troubled that night many years ago. Jesus had told them that he was about to go away. He was about to be put to death. Under these circumstances Jesus told them: "Do not let your heart be troubled." (John 14:1) Jesus knew he was about to die. Certainly he himself must have been bowed with grief and exceeding sorrowful in anticipation of the shame of death he was about to suffer. Yet his thoughts and comforting words went forth to his disciples, who were perplexed and distressed. Hiding his own sorrow he comforted them. Thus he set an example to all of his followers who, walking in his steps and imitating him, are at once in the world good physicians, ministers of the Divine Law of Love. Indeed, however much we appreciate the miracles Jesus performed -- the healing of the sick, the awakening of dead, the opening of the blind eyes and deaf ears -- that which appeals to us as the most wonderful manifestation is his teaching, his doctrine. How wonderful it must have been to have heard him speak. Even as someone said: "Never has a man spoken like this man." (John 7:46) We also read: "So all bore witness concerning him, and marveled at his gracious words which came forth from his mouth." -- Luke 4:22.

(4)  And so it must be with the disciples of Jesus. Our Lord might have spent all of his time and all of energy in healing the sick, in awakening the dead. But this was not his mission. By performing these miracles he was merely giving evidence of the power of God residing in him, and foreshadowed the blessings yet to come to the world at his second advent -- the times of refreshing that then would come, "times of restoration of all things spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began." (Acts 3:19-21; Revelation 21:1-4; Isaiah 35:5-10) Many people were coming to the Pool of Bethseda to be healed. Jesus could have healed them all -- but he didn't. He only healed only one man. (John 5:2-9) This was all that was needed for his purpose. Jesus knew that it was not the due time for the healing of the woes and difficulties of the world. Those whose interest was awakened by the physical healing had their attention promptly drawn to Yahweh's readiness to heal all the broken-hearted, to give the oil of joy for the spirit of heaviness, and to awaken those dead in trespasses and sins to a newness of life through faith. -- Isaiah 61:1-3.

(5)  Similarly all the faithful followers of Jesus are commissioned as his representatives to tell the message of Good Tidings to all who have ears to hear -- to announce to such the Divine Program. They declare that as sin and death came by one man's disobedience, so a redemption has be accomplished by another, by "the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all, to be witnessed in due time." (1 Timothy 2:5,6) They are authorized to do the work of a good physician and to bind up the broken-hearted. They are authorized as lawyers versed in the Law of God to point out to those willing to hear that sin, the violation of Divine Law, has brought all the havoc upon our race which causes countless thousands to mourn. They are authorized further to point out that Jesus our Lord gave himself a full ransom-price, meeting the demands of the broken Law. Thus it is possible for all who have turned from sin, and who are seeking to come back into harmony with God and his perfect Law of Love, to approach him through the Messiah as their Advocate, and to realize that they are no longer condemned, but justified freely from all things through their faith in their Redeemer and Advocate.

(6)  They are further authorized as ministers of the Good News to point out to those who have the hearing ear that the reconciliation accomplished by our Lord Jesus not only covers our sins of the past, but also covers weaknesses and imperfections of the present and of the future for the believer to the extent that these are involuntary, disapproved, and striven against. They are authorized in the Master's name to assure all such that "the Father himself loves you." "All things are working together for the good to those who love God, the called ones according to his purpose." Eventually through the glorified Messiah and his saints, a blessed opportunity for reconciliation to God under the terms of the New Covenant are to extended to "all families of the earth" -- including those who have gone down into the great prison-house of death without having had a full, proper knowledge of Yahweh and of his plan. -- John 16:27; Romans 8:28.

"Bind Up the Broken-Hearted"

(7)  Thus the small number of true worshipers have seen in the present time gracious opportunities for serving the brothers and such of the world as have hearing ears and a desire to become of the "sons of the God." It is not true that God gave a commission to the ambassadors of his son to go through life breaking the hearts of their fellow-humans. On the contrary, the commission read that those of the body of Christ who have received the anointing of the holy spirit from the Lord Jesus, their head, are commissioned to bind up the broken-hearted, to comfort all that mourn in Zion, and to preach the acceptable year of Yahweh. -- Isaiah 61:1-3.

(8)  If some are disposed to object that the comforting of mourners and the binding of broken hearts imply that God's ministers, servants of the Truth, are first of all to break the hearts, to cause the mourning, we answer, No! This is not what the scripture says, and we should not add to the Word of God. Various agencies are at work all about us, doing the heart-breaking and the wounding. It is for us to receive so much of Yahweh's spirit that so far as possible we would not break any hearts. We would not wound any. Instead we would do all in our power to effect the proper healing of any who are within the range of our influence. Sin is breaking the hearts of thousands. Disappointment in themselves, in their own ambitions, in their own efforts, disappointment in their friends, in business, in pleasure -- all of these are doing the wounding and the breaking. So many more hearts are troubled and broken than Yahweh's people can possibly heal during this present evil world. Therefore, we must content ourselves to do the work the Master has given us to do. We must leave to the Adversary and those who are in outer darkness of sin and ignorance of Yahweh and his spirit to do the heart-breaking. -- Isaiah 42:16.

(9)  In our understanding the Scriptures teach that a great time of trouble is upon us -- the final parts of which will end this world's history. Before its end, the scriptures indicate that there will be a period of unparalleled anarchy. The prophecies indicate that this trouble will continue to get worse and worse until all human hopes and ambitions will utterly fail. "They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end." (Psalm 107:27) "And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken." (Luke 21:25,26) "Evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." (2 Timothy 3:13) "The earth will reel to and fro like a drunkard, and will totter like a hut; its transgression will be heavy upon it, and it will fall, and not rise again." (Isaiah 24:20) "There will be a time of trouble such as has not been since there was a nation -- no, nor will ever be again." (Daniel 12:1; Matthew 24:21) This great trouble, as the Scriptures point out, is the result of selfishness reaching its limit. It is becoming ripe and going to seed. The world has always been selfish. According to the Scriptures and according to our observation, however, this spirit of greed and selfishness is extending more and more widely. It is impressing almost every member of the human race. Eventually it will be true, as the Scriptures describe, that "every man's hand will be against his neighbor" with the result that there will be "no peace to him that goes out or to him that coming in." -- Zechariah 8:10.

(10)  Those of the world, those still under the wrath of God, are ignorant of his purpose for their blessing during the coming Millennium. (John 3:36; 1 Corinthians 2:7) They will feel the final blows of the time of trouble most keenly. Those enlightened by the holy spirit through his word know that the world's sorrows, woes and heart-breakings will eventually be favorable to them. These things will come upon the masses of mankind for the ultimate purpose of blessing them. Therefore the general plowing of the world with the plowshare of trouble and perplexity of that time, when all its hopes will be dissipated, will work for good to them eventually. But before the blessings can come, their attention must be turned away from the false hopes which many of them have long been vainly chasing. They will come to the better, the true hope which Yahweh has provided, the center of which is the Messiah's Kingdom and the ground of which is His ransom-sacrifice at Calvary. -- 1 Timothy 2:5,6.

The Future Work of Blessing

(11)   How wise is the Divine arrangement! Those who are true disciples of Jesus are to be associated with the Lord Jesus during His Millennial Reign in the work of uplifting and helping mankind over their difficulties and out of their various degradations. (1 Corinthians 6:2,3; Isaiah 2:2-4; 29:23,24) These same disciples are now gaining the needed experience in this matter now by binding up the broken hearts of the comparatively few, and who have the ear to hear and the desire to respond to the grace of God during this Good News Age. (1 Thessalonians 5:3-5; Romans 8:14-25) Thus we see illustrated the statement elsewhere given us in the Scriptures that we are being taught by our experiences in preparation for future usefulness. (Philippians 4:11; Hebrews 12:5-11; 2 Thessalonians 1:10) Today physicians and nurses may spend many years in training for their future work. Likewise, Yahweh is calling a "little flock" to become the glorious "Royal Priesthood" of the future. (Luke 12:32) These will be given the privilege of dispensing Kingdom blessings upon the world of mankind. (1 Corinthians 6:2,3; Isaiah 32:1; 2:1-4; Genesis 12:1-3; Galatians 3:29) So what they do now is practice-work in their own hearts, in their own families, amongst their own kin, with their neighbors, and in the "household of faith." -- Galatians 6:10.

(12)  What a thought, that our future graduation and the possibility of our sharing in the Kingdom work is dependent on how we now learn the art of binding up the broken hearts of those with whom we are in contact! Not that the skill is the important matter, but the love. He who loves much and who now sees the broken and troubled hearts around him will be led to "do good to all men as he may have opportunity, but especially to the household of faith." (Galatians 6:10) If, on the contrary, his love and sympathy do not go out toward these troubled ones, if his best energies are spent on money making or in some other selfish channel, how could the love of God dwell in him? Let us remember the words of Scripture: "Yahweh your God does prove you as to whether you love Yahweh your God with all your heart or not." (Deuteronomy 13:3) For, as the apostle tells us, he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God, whom he has not seen? (1 John 4:20) The proof then that all Jesus' disciple must present is love -- "He who dwells in love dwells in God," and "everyone who loves is born of God, and knows God." -- 1 John 4:16,7.

(13)  Here we note that, with sympathetic minds, some are improperly, injuriously binding up broken hearts. It has become the general message of many religious teachers and philosophers that there is no exclusiveness in God's Plan -- that all mankind are children of God, and that our Lord Jesus made a great mistake when he declared to some: "You are of your father the Devil." (John 8:44) It has become with many a stock phrase, the "Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man." But we warn all there is no Scriptural authority for such teaching, but that on the contrary they are drawing away the hearts of men from the good Physician and the Divinely given balm; for "there is not any other name given under heaven amongst men whereby we must be saved," but the name of Jesus. There is no other, therefore, qualified to speak true peace to the troubled soul or to properly bind up the broken heart.

"Only Jesus Would I Know and Him Impaled"

(14)  Our Lord forewarned us of these various theories of salvation through another channel than that which God has provided. (Matthew 7:15; 24:11; 24:24) He declared Himself to be the only door into the sheepfold, and that all who attempt to get into it otherwise are thieves and robbers -- that no man can come to the Father but through Him. (John 14:6) We therefore warn against any theory that attempts to present mercy and restoration to divine favor otherwise than through faith in Christ's sacrifice. (Romans 5:1,2,18; 3:25; 2 Corinthians 11:3,4) And we denounce as unscriptural all those teachings, growing increasingly prevalent because of the evolution theory, that present the thought that there was no original sin, no original sentence, and hence no need of a redeemer and no need of an uplift by restoration, such as God has promised and made provision for, and which He assures us will be accomplished during the Millennial Age, when Satan will be bound. (Acts 3:21; Revelation 20:1-4) We hold forth as God's olive branch, as His message of peace, the invitation that all the "called" may come to the Father through the Redeemer -- through the merit of His sacrifice, and coming, may realize their sins forgiven, their restoration to Divine favor, Yahweh's loving interest in all their affairs, and His (Acts 4:12) willingness and ability to make all things work together for their good, (Romans 8:28) and His promise that, if faithful, ultimately they will be made sharers with their Lord in the blessings of world in resurrection of the just -- to receive glory, honor and immortality; and that by and by, during the Millennium, all those now blind and deaf may taste of Divine grace.

(15)  Another error that we should warn against is that of acceptance of Jesus and a hope in Him contrary to the presentation of the Scriptures. Some tell us that they reject the thought that Jesus died to be man's Redeemer, but that they, nevertheless, accepted Christ as their teacher and example. Our reply is that as our Teacher and Lord he taught us that He "came into the world to give His life a ransom for the many" -- for all. (Matthew 20:28: 1 Timothy 2:6) If His life was not a ransom, or corresponding price, then what he said was a lie. Those who believe that He did lie could not consider Him a proper teacher. Furthermore, if He came into the world merely to be our Exemplar and not be our Redeemer, our Ransomer, then His mission was a failure. Why? Because no one since His coming has been able to follow the example He set. To view our Master as merely and Example for proper living for the world would be an absurdity, since no one of the fallen race can possibly live up to the perfect standard that our Lord set in sacrificing all of His rightful interests as a man. -- Matthew 20:28.

(16)  The Scriptures present the opposite view -- that mankind are all imperfect through the fall, and under the death sentence (Romans 5:12); and that "Jesus Christ by the grace of God tasted death for every man" -- "gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." (Hebrews 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:6) They teach that this sacrifice for the sin of Adam, and applicable through him to the sins of the whole world, was necessary for the meeting of the divine sentence before divine forgiveness and restoration to eternal life and favor would be possible. (Romans 5:18,19) The scriptures tell us that for the majority of mankind such a restoration will be effected during the Millennial Age. (Romans 8:19-23; Revelation 20:2-4; 21:1-5; John 12:48; Isaiah 26:9) The scriptures further tell us that to a very small minority, even "as many as the Yahweh your God will call," our Lord was not only a Redeemer but an Exemplar; that these who are called to a separation from the world to walk in the narrow way of self-sacrifice are to copy Christ's example as far as possible, though admittedly they will never be able to come up to His standards. (1 Corinthians 6:17,18; 1 Peter 2:21-24; 1 John 1:7-10; 2:1,2; 3:5) The Scriptures assure us that the best endeavors of this class, covered by the merit of Christ's sacrifice, will be acceptable and reckoned to them as though they were perfect sacrifices, and that thus they may have their share with their Redeemer in the glory and honor of His Kingdom, and be participants with Him in the great work of bestowing on the world during the Millennium the blessing of divine forgiveness and favor secured through the sacrifice of Christ.

"Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled"

(17)  We come finally to the application of the above scripture to the apostles and those who have believed through their word. The hearts of these are not to be troubled about the things they see in this world. They are no longer part of the world, because separated from the world through their acceptance of Yahweh and His acceptance of them. While still sharers in the trials, difficulties of the world in general, these now have the consolations of the Scriptures to offset these troubles and to view them as "light afflictions" -- not worthy to be compared with the glories promised to be revealed in us. (2 Corinthians 4:17; Romans 8:18) Indeed, it is not an unusual thing for Yahweh to permit trials and difficulties to come upon His faithful much more severe than those that fall to the lot of the world. -- Hebrews 12:6-11; Revelation 3:19.

(18)  Yes, even as the apostle says, so it should be with all who have truly dedicated their lives to Yahweh, that "none of these things move me" -- none of these experiences in life should cause anxious thought. Why? The apostle tells us: "Because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts." (Acts 20:24; Romans 5:5) We have not only learned that God has forgiven our sins, that He is our Father and his Son is our best friend, that He is merciful to our imperfections, that He has called us to glory and association with our Redeemer, but that these blessings are to be ours at the "last day," the day of resurrection for the just and unjust, and the establishment of God's kingdom. (Colossians 1:14; 2 Corinthians 1:2,3; 6:17,18; John 15:14,15) Additionally, we now have peace, the joy, the happy hope that these wonderful promises afford. (Colossians 3:15) These the world can neither give nor take away.

(19)  What wonder if the hearts of this class are not as troubled as the world around them! The Father knows the things they have need of. (Matthew 6:8,32) Day by day they are learning more distinctly than ever before that He who cares for the sparrows and for their necessities, He who clothes the grass of the field, is much more interested in them, will be much more careful of their interests, so that figuratively speaking not one hair of their heads could fall without Divine attention. "Nothing will by any means hurt you," is the Master's assurance. (Luke 10:19; 12:6,7) Why then should we be troubled? Surely anxiety on the part of such would be a lack of faith, a lack of confidence, or else ignorance of the Divine promises and arrangements. -- Romans 5:1.

"Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1) "You must keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed upon you." -- Isaiah 26:3.

Questions

(1)  Why is the world filled with troubled hearts?

(2)  Why are those in the helping professions often unable to bring true relief to those who they are trying to help?

(3)  a. What were the circumstances under which Jesus told his disciples: "Do not let your heart be troubled"?

(4)  Why did Jesus perform miracles of healing?

(5)  What is the mission given to the followers of Jesus?

(6)  What are the followers of Jesus further authorized to do for those who have a hearing ear?

(7)  Are the disciples of Jesus to go through life breaking the hearts of those in the world? Explain.

(8)  a. Do the disciples of Jesus need to cause pain and mourning before they can bind the broken-hearted? b. What is the source of the worlds mourning? c. Is the disciple of Jesus commissioned to bind up all the broken-hearted in the world during this present system?

(9)  What do the prophecies of the scripture indicate is about to come upon the earth?

(10)  Will all the sorrows, woes and heart-breakings that the world is yet to go through be for no reason, or will they derive any benefit from these things?

(11)  a. Who will be associated with Jesus during His Millennial Reign in the work of uplifting and helping mankind out of their degradation? b. What are the experiences of the disciples of Jesus preparing them for?

(12)  What quality are the disciples of Jesus called upon to prove?

(13)  How are some improperly trying to bind the hearts of their neighbors?

(14)  What did Jesus forewarn us against? What theories today do we denounce?

(15)  What is another theory that we also reject?

(16)  a. Why is man imperfect, according to the scriptures? b. By what means is the condemnation of death lifted? c. When will most of mankind receive restoration? d. Who will aid Messiah in restoring mankind?

(17)  What do those who have been separated and accepted by Yahweh now have to console them? Do they escape the tribulations in this world?

(18)  How should the dedicated servant of Yahweh react to the experiences of life? Why?

(19)  What assurances are given those who belong to Yahweh?

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