“And the peace which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:7
The contractor waved his arms in excitement as he exclaimed, “your choices are endless!” If you have ever remodeled or built a home, you have heard the same statement at some point in the process. I don’t know if he noticed the panic on my face, but it was there. I am not a person that is comfortable with infinite choices. An endless array of options is not a peaceful place for me, and I’m guessing it’s not for most people. It only took two days of appointments with contractors and being bombarded with decision after decision for my brain to be overwhelmed and exhausted.
Life is filled with endless decisions that have to be made daily. Some are critical and life-altering, and some are very basic. But the most crucial life-changing decision any human being will ever make will be where they will spend eternity. In Acts 4:12, Peter declares to the Sanhedrin, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” There is only one option and only one choice. There is only one name in all of heaven and earth with the power to save. And that name is Jesus (Romans 10:13).
In a world filled with choice overload, I am abundantly grateful for the peace of my salvation. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). We who trust Christ are redeemed and declared righteous by faith. Our sins are forgiven, rebellion ceases, the war is over, and we have peace with God. Jesus says in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.” Peace cannot be found in this world of endless choices. All the stuff this world has to offer is shallow and unfulfilling. No individual without Jesus Christ can ever have peace, and no world without God can ever know peace.
God’s peace comes to us when we can stop amid the swirling current of life’s choices and take the time to seek Him through studying His word and prayer. He commands us to “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). We must disconnect from life’s activity to know Him. But to know Him, we must first choose Him. And to those who make that decision and stay fixed on Him, He gives the gift of peace even in a world of endless choices. Praise the Lord today for His gift, and that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.
The picture of the grocery store aisle illustrates one place where we are faced with row after row of choices and decisions.