Peace. It’s something for which this world longs. For centuries, men and women have fought to preserve peace. Others have sought to destroy it. Much blood has been shed in the battle for peace. But peace isn’t just something we desire on a global scale. It’s also something we hunger for on a personal level. Worry, anxiety, and fear too often dominate our thoughts, robbing us of rest as our minds play the “what if” game.
There’s an entire industry of prescription medications designed to help people who crave peace — and use of these medications is at an all-time high in America. At the same time, drug and alcohol use has escalated as people seek to escape their problems — even temporarily. Despite these short-term treatments, peace remains illusive.
Coincidentally — or not — the percentage of people seeking God has declined in that same period of time. There is a direct correlation between the lack of relationship with God and the lack of peace in our world today. Ray Stedman said it well with these words:
“As the world’s great leaders grapple with the dilemma of modern life, all they can say is, ‘What is wrong? What is the unknown element behind this? We cannot understand or explain this! Something is missing from our understanding of human nature and human behavior. What is it?’ The answer: There is a spiritual war going on behind the scenes of history, and that spiritual war in the unseen world is driving events in our own visible world. There is no peace in the material world because there is a war now raging in the spiritual world.”
True peace cannot be found outside of the presence of God. Period. Peace with God comes through faith in Jesus as the payment for our sins. As mentioned in a previous post, when we place our faith in Jesus, we immediately receive His righteousness which reconciles us with God.
This is the “gospel of peace” Paul refers to in Ephesians 6 — the good news that Christ’s death and resurrection allows believers through faith to spend eternity in the presence of a holy God — wow! When we really grasp that truth and keep that perspective, we can experience His peace while still in the midst of challenging or even devastating circumstances.
So… why the shoe? Why did Paul use that piece of armor to relate to the Christian life?
A couple of things to consider. First, the footwear for Roman soldiers at the time was sort of an open half-boot with leather straps. The soldier’s shoes weren’t made for running, but for marching. They provided protection to the feet, resulting in a more mobile army. They often had hobnails on the bottom of the shoe which added to its’ longevity; in addition, the hobnails provided traction or a firmer grip when navigating unpaved areas. You could say they were the “all-terrain shoe” of the time.
Second, did you know that the Bible has some interesting verses that involve feet — both positive and negative. First, here are a couple of the negative ones: Isaiah 59 says, “Their feet rush into sin; they are swift to shed innocent blood. They pursue evil schemes; acts of violence mark their ways. The way of peace they do not know; there is no justice in their paths. They have turned them into crooked roads; no one who walks along them will know peace.”
Proverbs 1 warns us to not listen to the enticing invitation of sin with these words, “my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; for their feet rush into evil, they are swift to shed blood.”
Proverbs 6 cautions of “six things the Lord hates; seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.” Did you catch that? The Lord hates feet that are quick to rush into evil!
In contrast, Psalm 119:105 describes God’s Word as a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. And in Psalm 18 we read these encouraging words, “It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights….You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way.”
And I love the description given in Isaiah 52:7, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’”
You see, if your feet are fitted with the gospel of peace, they are much more likely to stay on God’s path rather than stray toward the evil path of the enemy. God’s path is lit by His Word, and it is good for making your walk strong and steadfast. Protect your feet with the gospel of peace and then carry that message to others boldly declaring that God reigns!!! Amen?
Just as those hobnails grounded the soldier, so the peace that comes through the gospel of Jesus grounds believers. It provides traction in our tumultuous world and longevity to persevere through tough terrain — we could all use extra traction these days, right?
SO….. once we are reconciled with God, does that mean we will always feel at peace? You already know the answer to this one. Unfortunately, it’s a definite “no.” We still have worries and fears that cause us anxiety, sleepless nights, and sometimes even depression — things that seek to rob us of peace and affect our testimony. Dr. David Jeremiah said it well with these words:
“How can we minister to others in this world of woe and warfare if our own hearts are so upset that we seem no different than anyone else? It’s like going into battle barefoot, grimacing in pain as the rocks of anxiety press into our tender soles. Just as the right boots protect our soles, the peace of the Gospel protects our souls. The Good News of Christ brings composure to our lives. It puts hard leather between us and the jagged stones of fear and doubt.”
We have to be intentional to combat these darts of the devil with our choices.
Choose to seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness, trusting He will provide everything we need. Choose not to worry about tomorrow — don’t borrow trouble! Choose to take every thought captive. Choose to release your burdens to Jesus and take His yoke; rest in Him. Choose to live in the victory Jesus has already won. Choose to rejoice in all situations, lifting praise to God with a thankful heart. Choose to stay close to God through reading His Word, praying, and spending time with Him. When we are in a healthy relationship with God, filling our minds and hearts with His truths, we are much less vulnerable to attack by the enemy, resulting in experiencing more peace.
We see this illustrated in a powerful story found in Matthew 14…you have probably heard it before. After Jesus fed the 5,000 by multiplying five loaves of bread and two fish, He sent Peter and the disciples in a boat and said he would meet up with them on the other side of the lake.
As night fell, the wind picked up and the waves rocked the boat. It’s quite possible they had been up all night by the time Jesus approached their boat right before dawn. Imagine being in the boat among these disciples. You’re fearful, sleep deprived and discouraged, and then you look up and see a man walking on the waves toward you…walking on the waves! These terrified men thought He was a ghost, but Jesus told them, “Take Courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
Peter asked Jesus to confirm His identify by calling him out on the water, and Jesus simply said, “Come.” As Peter took his first step of faith out onto the waves, his focus was on Jesus. But when he took his eyes off Jesus and instead focused on his circumstances—on the wind and the waves—he lost his peace. Fear gripped him as he began to sink, and he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out to catch him and asked him why he doubted.
The same thing can happen to us. When we see Scripture through the lens of our circumstances, we grow anxious and fearful. But when we see our circumstance through the lens of Scripture, we grow peaceful. The gospel of peace prepares our feet for battle.
One of my favorite verses about peace is Isaiah 26:3, which reads: “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”
Interestingly, the original wording that has been translated as “perfect peace” is really a repeat of a single word: “shalom.” In other words, the verse says that God will “keep in peace peace those whose minds are steadfast” — wow! Anytime you see a word repeated in Scripture, pay attention because the author is making a point. And what’s the requirement to receive that “peace peace”? Having a steadfast mind that trusts in the Lord! A mind that is unwavering in confidence and security in Him. This verse is both encouraging and convicting!
Will you allow the peace of God to “rule” in your heart as we’re told in Colossians 3:15? The word for “rule” there means to “umpire” — God’s peace (which comes through His Word and His Holy Spirit) should rule over your heart in similar fashion to how an umpire rules over a baseball game. If you don’t have peace about something, then listen carefully!
Be sensitive to allow the Holy Spirit to lead you, but be careful not to allow your feelings to drive your decisions. Remember that the heart is deceitful above all things and cannot be trusted. But, there IS wisdom in listening to God’s Spirit (which will always be in alignment with His Word) and allowing His peace to influence your decisions.
So, lace up those shoes with the Gospel of peace that comes through a personal relationship with Christ, the Prince of Peace. Stand firm in the battle.