A Ruling Factor

Williams New Testament translation for Colossians 3:15
15. Let the peace that Christ can give keep on acting as umpire in your hearts, for you were called to this state as members of one body. And practice being thankful.

Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. (KJV)

In baseball an umpire makes the final decision which determines an outcome of a play, something that can be vital concerning the final score. In the realm of Christianity, being Christ like, it’s the peace of God that should be the deciding factor in all your decisions so that you don’t end up making a bad call. The word ‘rule’ has many interesting definitions, all of which mean the same thing; umpire, prevail, determine is another one, all pointing to the same outcome, or what should be the outcome for the believer. Is it truly the peace of God that rules in all your decisions, or are you still seeking peace in a realm our Lord said it didn’t truly exist?

John 14:26-27 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (27) Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (KJV)

Did you ever stop and realize that there is another peace the enemy would like you to fall for?  I will give you a hint; it is located in a fallen realm. All through the Bible the Lord has given promises to God’s people that the devil has tried to imitate, and though it looks so good on the outside its results are empty and useless, vain would be another way of describing it. While God promises things that look impossible to us at times and yet are still peaceful, the enemy will try to entice us with something that is too good to be true because that is exactly what it is. While God will show you the truth of a matter as well as the consequences, the enemy will only show people the highlight reel of what they think they are missing out on and all that is available to those that choose temporal things over eternal ones.

Matthew 4:8-10 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; (9) And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. (10) Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. (KJV)

You know, the enemy did try to entice our Lord with a false peace, one that looked so good to the outward but would have been an abomination to the inward man. While our Lord knew the difference between the peace of God and the short term peace of this world, there are many that have and continue to fall for a cheap thrill ride in the flesh, which like a roller coaster climbs slowly but comes down much quicker and crashes. Oh the things of this life can look so good, but remember the eyes of man are never satisfied; so what you went chasing after today will get old and you will be off and running after some other dead end fleshly desire that promises much and delivers nothing but heartache and misery. Knowing the difference, rightly dividing the word of truth so that you can separate soul and spirit, what is of the flesh and what is spiritual in nature, should be the deciding factor in your walk as well.

Romans 4:16-20 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (17) (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. (18) Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. (19) And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: (20) He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; (KJV)

This man Abraham was some 99 years old when a promise of a son was given to him. How easily it would have been to doubt and wonder, based on the outward circumstances and not an inward peace. We serve a God who gives life to the dead; situations that seem dead in our realm are alive and well in the realm of God ready to birth and spring forth to those that trust in Him. The just shall live by faith, a faith not in what is seen which is temporal, but rather in that which is unseen to the eyes of man but readily revealed to the eyes of our understanding. So what are you holding to today, and what is the ruling factor in all your decisions, is it based on the outward or inward peace? When I look at verse 20 and see the term staggering, it reminds me of someone that has taken a hit and is ready to go down, someone who got blindsided and sucker punched by the enemy. The peace of God is truly a ruling factor and passes our own understanding; the question is will you allow it to be a ruling factor in your life?

2 Corinthians 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) (KJV)

The enemy would like to show you a highlight reel based on sight, the outward one that entices the flesh; the only problem is the reality reel of consequences is kept out of sight and hidden to those that have been blinded. The path of life that leads to salvation is a spiritual one, a path not heavily traveled because many choose to walk the other way, looking for coming attractions rather than seeking one based on reality.

Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (7) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (KJV)

When you see the word ‘keep’, it means to guard and protect. We have been given the Holy Spirit to comfort us, to keep us from evil and show us the path of life. This peace is given to us for our protection so that we won’t get hit with a spiritual virus which can infect and pull down a believer. Keeping your spiritual senses exercised, discerning the difference between what is of God and what is being presented as being of God will keep one healthy and fit in the realm of the Spirit, while anything less will have you staggering and ready to fall face first in the realm our Lord provided deliverance from.

God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord.