A False Peace

Scripture Read: Deut. 29:14-21 "Now not with you alone am I making this covenant and this oath,  [15] but both with those who stand here with us today in the presence of the LORD our God and with those who are not with us here today  [16] (for you know how we lived in the land of Egypt, and how we came through the midst of the nations through which you passed.  [17] "Moreover, you have seen their abominations and their idols of wood, stone, silver, and gold, which they had with them);  [18] lest there shall be among you a man or woman, or family or tribe, whose heart turns away today from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of those nations; lest there shall be among you a root bearing poisonous fruit and wormwood.  [19] "And it shall be when he hears the words of this curse, that he will boast, saying, 'I have peace though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart in order to destroy the watered land with the dry.' [20] "The LORD shall never be willing to forgive him, but rather the anger of the LORD and His jealousy will burn against that man, and every curse which is written in this book will rest on him, and the LORD will blot out his name from under heaven.  [21] "Then the LORD will single him out for adversity from all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant which are written in this book of the law. 

Application: There appears to be a peace that is not a peace. Circumstances surrounding us are calm so we assume we are ok. It must be that at some point a man living in open sin can convince himself that due to the fact that God is not actively punishing him, that he has peace. Even though he has no real connection any more, but because he has quiet, he believes he has peace. Then when bad times come he realizes there is no peace, or as in this case he becomes belligerent about how he can do what he wants (“Well my sins are forgiven!” or  “Everything is going alright so I must be okay”) At that point God actively gets involved to teach him he is wrong. What kind of peace have I been nourishing? It is so easy to think that outward circumstances reveal where you are with God. That is the danger – we forget that that picture of the bird resting very comfortably underneath a raging waterfall best portrays real peace. I am sure I get sucked into the same wrong sense at times. That is why the key is the inner life – not the outer. If I know I am living right my spirit will be at peace with Him. I need to seek only His peace, that alone will come through obedience and desiring what God desires. Help me Lord!