Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.                                                                                                                                                                                     

1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NASB)

In Psalm 11:3, David asks, “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” and these days of upheaval and outrageousness in the most foundational of our country’s institutions, a lot of Christians are asking the same question.

Historical scholars would tell you that our present turmoil is nothing exceptional. What is truly unusual is the era of peace and prosperity that most of us have experienced as our norm. Lately, I have wondered if families huddled around their radios to hear the details of the bombing of Pearl Harbor felt a vulnerability similar to ours when we read that church officials or our school system or our public library have, in one closed-door meeting and with the full force of law, instituted policies that are against all we know to be moral and right.

Because we inhabit time and space and are limited by our five senses and our fallen perspective, what we know of “peace” is circumstantial: the first birdsong of a fresh new day, the sound of ocean waves lapping against the shore, even the quiet in a house after all the kids are put to bed. And, until recently, it was also living in a world where certain values were agreed to be right and true.

Like us, the Thessalonians to whom this lovely benediction was given, came to faith out of a prosperous culture. When their persecution began, they were surprised and fearful.

The words that Paul wanted them to take out into a hostile world did not promise that their persecution would lessen or even cease. Instead he gave with better promises to take into their struggles: God was at work in their situation and He would finish what He began. His goal was to sanctify them for His holy purposes in spirit, soul and body until the day when the Lord Jesus Christ returned and the peace of God would be both the process and the power by which they would be sanctified.

Will we eventually follow in the steps of the church of Thessalonica? We don’t know yet. What we do know is that these aren’t “peaceful” times. But we know something else: the provisions and promises of God found in His Word are eternally true for those who are called to be His people.

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled; nor let it be fearful.        John 14:27 (NASB)  

Nancy Shirah