The peace of God which surpasses all understanding

 

    In considering Paul's statement in Philippians 4:7 concerning the "peace of God which surpasses all understanding..." I began to wonder, just how much do we, as carnal human beings, truly understand, especially about the *invisible things* created by Christ in heaven and on earth (cf. Colossians 1:16).

            We know there are things that God has revealed to us, but there are also things that He has kept "secret" from us (Deuteronomy 29:29).  Ever wonder what those "secret things" are?

            You probably remember the old question: "How can a black cow eat green grass, give white milk and yellow butter?"  In the same vein, how can I eat food and part of it goes to nourish my brain, other parts strengthen my bones, some turns into antioxidants that cleans my blood, etc., etc..

            We understand all the elements involved in a tornado, but why is it that often all the elements are present and a tornado doesn't form?  We know "how" electricity works, but we don't understand "why" it works.  Why is it that our massive, gargantuan solar system operates with such minute precision that we can predict where the tiny planet of Pluto will be a thousand years from day after tomorrow?  Why is the law of gravity consistent throughout the universe?

            These, and ten thousand other questions, and they all surround "physical" things!  If we understand so little about physical things, how little must we truly understand about "spiritual" things?  Again, Paul himself says even the "peace of God surpasses all understanding."

            I often wonder about the sin of sexual immorality. The Holy Spirit says (through Paul), that "every sin a man commits is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body" (1Corinthians 6:18). There seems to be something especially destructive about the sin of sexual immorality. Maybe that's why Satan is using "sex" to permeate every ounce of our society.  Somehow, it is especially detrimental and damaging to one's personal soul and spiritual well-being, as well as his relationship to God. While it may seem to the majority that the promiscuous, uninhibited life-style is, at least acceptable, among consenting adults, what is truly happening to a person's soul when they are intimate with someone outside the boundaries of God's Law?  No one can genuinely know, but we do know that something happens, and it isn't "good."  That's where faith comes in -- "without which no one can please God" (Hebrews 11:6).

            If we put all things under a microscope, we would have to admit that we really don't understand much at all.  There's only one solution: *faith* which comes by hearing, believing, and aligning our lives with God's Word (cf. Romans 10:17), even if doesn't make sense to us, and even if we don't understand the reasoning behind certain commands.

                                                                                                           Toby Miller