Peace with God

By Jeremy Writebol

I don’t enjoy tension in relationships. When something is off, and there is a conflict between various parties, especially if I am in the mix of it somewhere, the tension throws me into an immediate state of trying to repair the source of disharmony. I can’t even handle television shows or movies where there is a labored and long source of tension between families or people who can’t put their differences aside and work out the problem of the relationship. I want to smack around the houses of Capulet and Montague, who couldn’t settle their differences so their kids (Romeo and Juliet) could get married. Instead, death reigns. 

Many Christians are quietly resigned to living as if there’s significant tension between ourselves and God. We act as if He’s still disappointed in us, frustrated and hurt that we ran off and lived our own way in sin and rebellion. We feel this awkward tension when we are aware of His presence. Maybe you feel like you must walk on eggshells when it comes to a relationship with God, as if one missed word, one stray thought, or one errant action will bring down the whole thing again, and God’s wrath will be rekindled against you once again. 

I wish better for us. And Scripture gives us better news. The first verse of Romans 5 is one of the most significant announcements of the status of a believer in the entire Bible. It’s worth memorizing and meditating on in your life frequently.

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
—Romans 5:1 

What good news! The person who puts their hope and trust in Jesus Christ and what He has done in His perfect, sinless life, His sacrificial death in our place on the cross, and His glorious resurrection from the dead on the third day has been declared righteous by God, and the result of that declaration is absolute peace with God. 

There is no stern frown of God upon His children. There is no more war, no more walking on eggshells, and no more tension in the house. Friend, if you’ve placed your faith in Jesus Christ, you have a Heavenly Father who looks with delight on you as his child. He rejoices over and in you. He declares from heaven over all who trust in Jesus, “This is my beloved son, with whom I am well-pleased” (Matthew 17:5). God’s love is not out of reach or something we have to labor with difficulty to attain. He loves you! He’s proven His love for you in the reality that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). 

God smiles over you today if you are in Christ. He’s glad you are His child. Only peace, love, joy, and glory are ahead for His sons. Friend, the war is over! 

Enjoy God today.