| J.R. Miller D.D. | Page 4 |
An artist sought to portray peace. He put on his canvas a sea, swept by storms, filled with wrecks, a scene of terror and danger. In the midst of the sea he painted a great rock and high up in the rock a cleft, with herbage and flowers, in the midst of which he showed a dove sitting quietly on her nest. “These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye may have peace. In the world ye have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” We have the same picture of peace in the hymn – the rock, the cleft, the soul’s hiding place –
“Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee.”
The Christian’s peace is not found in a place where there is no trouble – it is something which enters the heart and makes it independent of all outside conditions. In the ruins of many old English castles a well is found down deep among the foundations. Thus water was provided for use in the castle in time of siege. The enemy might cut off the streams which ordinarily supplied the people in the castle with water. They might shut the gates, so that no one could go outside. But the defenders within the walls cared not for any siege while the well in the foundation gave its copious supply of pure, fresh water. So it is with the Christian in whose heart the peace of God dwells. He is not dependent upon outside conditions and circumstances, for he carries in himself the secret of his joy, hope, peace, and strength.
It is very evident that we cannot hope to live in this world without care. No such life is possible. The larger and more important the place we are called to fill, the more care must we have. Nor can we hope for a life without sorrow. To love is to weep some time in the journey. One of every two friends must hold the other’s hand and stand by the other’s coffin. Religion does not shelter us from grief. But the peace promised is an experience which neither care nor sorrow can disturb – it is something that changes sorrow into joy.
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