Light and Peace

Light and Peace

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:26-27.

Jesus only gives His peace in connection with the Helper, the Holy Spirit, who is also quite aptly called the “Man of light.” But this “Man” has at all times been hated, persecuted, and excluded from hearts and synagogues. Jesus came as the true light, but they hated Him because He testified that their works were evil. The idyllic peace in the synagogue came to an end when Jesus entered with light. As a result, they thrust Him out of the city, wanting to throw Him down from the cliff, but He passed through their midst and went His way. Luke 4:28-30. Jesus also leaves assemblies and individuals who do not love the light, leaving them with a dry doctrine and a well-organized church according to the “Biblical pattern.” They take good care that no one who comes with anything that is contrary to their opinions, rules, and regulations gets to say anything. Even the preacher has to feel his way carefully so that no one is offended by his words, or else it is unlikely that he will ever be asked to come again.

A while ago we spoke with a known preacher who wanted to be able to speak God’s Word like we do—straight from the heart, without any consideration for the flesh. He also thought that we had wonderful listeners. His listeners had become stiff; they could neither pray nor testify. They wanted to hear written, well-formulated sermons, and no matter how much labor he put into them, there were always some who were dissatisfied. And besides, there was such a forced atmosphere in the homes in which he stayed. Now he had bought himself a little business to supplement his work as a preacher so he could be a little bit freer, and not have to depend so much on other people’s money. God be praised for the blessed liberty we have in Christ’s Spirit outside the camp where all flesh is cursed!

People want to be left in peace. They want to be able to go to their church or their meeting hall and hear an entertaining speech, songs, and music undisturbed, and then continue to live their private lives for themselves. At each gathering they like to be comforted with the message that they can safely rest on the “foundation of the blood” with all their sins. If the Helper, the Holy Spirit, should teach them and remind them through one of His servants what Jesus said in connection with righteousness, lying, respect of persons, worldly greatness, etc., and proclaim that “resting on the foundation of the blood” is to rest on the foundation of truth, righteousness, and love in all their deeds and in their entire conduct, it would create quite a bit of unrest in the assembly. The whole foundation would begin to shake under their feet, and they would not want to hear such a message again. Those who hear God’s Word and do it are the only ones who build on a safe foundation. Matt. 7:24; 2 Tim. 2:19.

It is better that people are made restless here on earth by getting to see their true condition than that they first meet the “Man of light” after they have died. Hans Nilsen Hauge made many people restless when he quietly and peacefully walked through Norway’s villages with the light. Some people became hateful; others rejoiced. God’s true bearers of light have always been a great danger to the religious “peace and order.”

Jesus does not permit any peace or rest unless it is on the foundation of light and truth. A thorough sweeping out and cleansing of the heart is required according to the instructions of the “Man of light,” because Jesus can only give His good peace in an enlightened and pure heart. Then we have a good conscience according to the laws of righteousness, and our hearts do not need to be troubled or afraid in life’s dangers and difficulties. This blessed peace increases in fullness as the Helper, the Holy Spirit, is able to do His work in us.

“For the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Rom. 14:17.