06 The Way to Obtain Peace
The Way to Obtain Peace "Acquaint now yourself with him, and be at peace; thereby good shall come unto you." Job 22:21 By nature we are all strangers to God. We know him not. We have heard of him. We have spoken of him. But he is to us, unknown. The natural man can form no definite idea of God. He has no correct idea of his nature, perfections, demands, or promises. The advice given us in this passage is excellent. It directs to God. To the Most High God. The God who is offended by our sins. Who is pledged to punish every impenitent transgressor. But who has revealed himself in the person of his Son. Who is now in Christ reconciling sinners unto himself. Who invites us to approach him without fear.
It directs us to confess our sins unto him. To seek and obtain pardon from him. He is ready to forgive. He is now waiting to be gracious. He only needs to be known to be trusted, to be loved, to be obeyed.
Reader, acquaint now yourself with him and be at peace. You must know him or perish. There is no eternal life without the knowledge of God. For "this," said Jesus, "is eternal life — that they might know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." In order to know him — you should read his word. Read it as intended to make him known. To give you clear and correct ideas of him. Listen to the preaching of the gospel as you have opportunity. Think of what you read and hear respecting him. Speak of him to those who do know him. Ask them respecting his character, his love, his pity, and his various excellencies.
Pray much for the Holy Spirit — and beseech him to reveal Jehovah to you. It is his work to give the true knowledge of God. He enlightens the understanding, unfolds the meaning of the word, and enables us to conceive aright of the Most High God. Be much in prayer, for it is by earnest, fervent, frequent prayer, that we become familiar with God.
He who would become acquainted with God — must be often with him — must hear him speak in his word, and speak with him on his throne.
"Acquaint now yourself with him." This is the time. Under your present circumstances. Perhaps you were brought into these circumstances, on purpose to afford you the opportunity. If you let the present slip, another opportunity may not be given you. Begin then at once to think of God, of his goodness and his greatness; of his holiness and his mercy; of his justice and his grace.
Here are powerful inducements presented. "Acquaint now yourself with him — and be at peace." There is no peace while you are a stranger to God. In this state you are numbered with the wicked, and "there is no peace, says my God, to the wicked." They may labor under a delusion, and because conscience slumbers, they may call their quiet, indifference peace: but it is not so. There is no peace with God — but through the knowledge of God. You must know God in Christ, before you can be at peace with him.
It is only as the sinner perceives that God is love, that he is plenteous in mercy, that he is ready to pardon — that he lays down the weapons of his rebellion, and seeks to enjoy his favor. Terrors may alarm him. The law may terrify him. Judgments may fill him with dread. But it is only a sight of God in Christ — which will . . .
melt his stony heart,
subdue his stubborn will, and
attract his depraved affections. Nor can there be peace, until . . .
sin is pardoned,
the conscience is purged,
the mind is enlightened,
confidence in God is produced,
and hope in his mercy is generated.
These all flow from a spiritual knowledge of God. No one knows God — who does not desire to enjoy friendship with him. No one can enjoy friendship with him — unless he is pardoned and consecrated to his service. In proportion as I know God, I shall . . .
believe his word,
trust in the atonement of Jesus,
seek the influences of the Holy Spirit,
and walk humbly with him. And just in proportion as I do so — shall I enjoy peace.
Seek to know God, and then you will not . . .
dread his wrath,
fear his judgments, or
tremble to appear before him;
but you will . . .
hope in his mercy,
trust in his promises,
enjoy his presence, and
expect to dwell with him forever!
"Acquaint now yourself with him, and be at peace, thereby good shall come unto you." The evil feared — shall be prevented, and the good desired — shall be bestowed. All good comes to us through the knowledge of God. Hence the Apostle says, "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." 2 Peter 1:3-4.
Temporal good may come unto us, it often does. But spiritual good certainly will come. Our sins will be pardoned. Our persons will be justified. Our nature will be sanctified. Our trials will be moderated. Our comfort will be increased. Our prospects will be brightened.
All real evils will be prevented — and all necessary good will be bestowed. Good will come unto us in time while walking with God. We shall have . . .
peace of conscience,
fellowship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and
a secret something within which will sweeten all our trials, and sustain us under our sorrows.
Good will come unto us from God. He will send it, and send a blessing with it. Whatever comes will be good, for the curse will be extracted; and though it may be painful — it shall be profitable.
Good will come unto us in eternity — when dwelling with God. In time he visits us occasionally — but in eternity we shall dwell with him forever. Everything that can be called good, that will outlive the general conflagration, and that is suited to our natures — will be ours in eternity, if we are acquainted with God. Would you then have all your sins pardoned? Would you enjoy solid peace? Would you secure all good things in time? Would you be certain of all good things in eternity?
If so, "Acquaint yourself with him, and be at peace; thereby shall good come unto you."
Beloved friend, reflect upon your present condition. What is it? Are you an enemy to God — or are you his friend? One or the other you must be. Are you a stranger to God — or are you acquainted with him? One or the other is the case. Are you at war with God, a rebel in arms against his government — or are you reconciled to him, and at peace with him? In the one state or the other you are at this moment. If you are not reconciled to God — then there is no promise of good to you; but every evil should be feared, and be feared so long as you are in an unconverted state.
Let me beseech you to attend to the exhortation at once. There is no real cause for one moment’s delay. You can find no reason for putting off this necessary duty. No excuse can be accepted. You will therefore from this moment practically decide to acquaint yourself with God — or to go on in ignorance; to seek reconciliation with him — or to persevere in opposition to him; to seek to obtain all good in time and eternity — or to brave all the evils which such a sin can deserve, or a just God can send or permit. What a fearful alternative is this!
Yet it is the true state of the case. You must this moment, take the advice of God’s book and act upon it — or reject that advice and treat the Holy Spirit who wrote it with contempt. But perhaps you do know God. If so, cultivate a closer acquaintance with him. Counsel others to do as you have done, and say to all who are likely to listen to you, "Acquaint now yourself with God, and be at peace; thereby sball good come unto you." Tell them of the joys you realize, of the dangers you have escaped, of the prospects which are before you; and invite them to Jesus, exhort them to flee from the wrath to come. Speak to them of the Savior’s love, of his atoning blood, of his tender heart, of his precious promises, of his free invitations, and say unto them, "Come with us and we will do you good, for the Lord has spoken good concerning Israel." O speak a word for Jesus! Try by all means to save sinners from going down to the pit of eternal woe! "Others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire." Jude 1:23.