Title: Peace (Acts 27:18-26)
Contents
be at peace
Acts 27:18-26
In his book “Anxiety,” the philosopher Alain de Normal said that humans have been unstable for thousands of years. Even the existentialist philosopher Heidegger said that man is like a being hanging from a cliff and hanging from a pine branch gnawed by mice. People are anxious about whether the fetus is normal and whether the child who goes to school is safe. Employment, marriage, illness and old age are also factors of anxiety. Chan-geun Lee, in his book “Anxious Prosperity,” said that people feel anxious even when things are going well. Behind the antisocial behavior of rapist Kim Gil-tae, emotional anxiety during his growth was also a factor. Everyone wants peace, but the road is not easy.
A rich man offered to give half of his fortune to the one who gave him peace. Money cannot buy peace. On the other hand, some people start their day with a prayer of thanks, live their day with warm fellowship, and end their day with gratitude. Peace is the fulfillment of vision and character. Our Lord was the Prince of Peace. He slept peacefully even in his stomach, which was drifting in the wind. The first words of the resurrected Lord to his disciples were “Peace”, and when He healed a woman suffering from a hemorrhage, He also said “Go in peace.” Before he took up the cross, he said that he would give his disciples a different kind of peace than the world gives. The Lord wants to give us peace. So, how can we get the peace of the Lord?
Second, we must avoid God. It is not easy to find peace in the midst of great tribulation. In that case, you must unconditionally avoid God. Even in the rain and wind, the chicks hiding under the hen's wings are at peace. Little children find peace in their mother's arms. David took refuge in God when he was in danger from an enemy attack. “Those who take refuge in the Lord… savior... Hide under the shadow of your wings” (Psalm 17:8). 140 years ago, the mansion of a rich man in the United States was burned down. Around that time, I got a telegram from my wife, who was on a trip to France, saying that the boat capsized and all four children died, leaving only her alive. He hurriedly left for France to pick up his wife. And when he prays in deep sorrow on the boat, the Lord reveals that his children are in heaven. And a deep peace came. The hymn he wrote at this time is Hymn 470, “The Road of My Life.” Many are frustrated in the storms of life, but those who take refuge in God find peace.
Third, we must believe in God. In verse 22 of today's text, when everyone is afraid, Paul boldly speaks of peace. The reason is shown in verse 23. “The messenger of God… Say... “God has given you all those who sail with you.” Therefore, you... I… I believe in God”. Paul was at peace because he heard and believed the word of God. It is at peace when a wife trusts her husband and children trust their parents. Faith brings peace. When death approaches, people lose their peace. It is said that death row inmates intuitively know when they will die. And it is said that from a few days ago, he painted the walls with poop or turned into an animal due to extreme anxiety. But Jesus was not afraid in the face of the fear of death on the cross. The reason was because I believed in God. “Believe in God, believe also in Me” (John 14:1). The Lord believed that God would resurrect Him. He who believes in God who will solve the problem and give victory when fear comes, finds peace.
Everyone, please pray with faith when tribulation strikes. Be filled with the Holy Spirit through prayer and cast out fear. If you turn to God, he will give you peace. I pray in the name of the Lord that you and I will be victorious and overcome hardships with the peace that God gives.