Isaiah 32:17

"And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever."

If there is one thing that everyone wants it is peace. Many treaties have been signed that were thought to be able to bring peace, but in fact none came. As time marches on, one would conclude that peace on earth is an impossibility.

The reason this is so is the human race has in it a fatal flaw. Specifically, scriptures tell us in Romans 3:23 that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. And in Romans 3:10 we are told that there is none righteous, no, not one.

Isaiah tells us that peace is tied to righteousness. But Romans tells us that there is nobody that is righteous. There is the problem. The reason we cannot achieve peace is because we are all unrighteous. All of our leaders are, and we all too are unrighteous. So they are unable to achieve peace on earth, and we are unable to achieve peace even in our own circle of influence.

2 Corinthians 5:21 tells us, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." This is telling us that through Jesus we can be righteous. The reason this is true is because on the cross His Father judged Him for our sin! He was made sin for us. The one who knew no sin was made to be sin. In the exchange, God has made us as righteous as Himself through Christ. No wonder this is called the gospel; "good news."

If we are in Christ, then, we have the righteousness of God. According to this verse in Isaiah, the work of righteousness is peace. This is what the angels meant when they announced the birth of Christ. They said, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." The peace to which they were referring was peace with God. And this peace would be made available through Jesus, whose birth they were announcing.

So the work of righteousness is peace. The verse in Isaiah goes on to say, "... the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever." Once having been made righteous, and gained peace with God, the effects are eternal. These effects are called quietness and assurance.

The word quietness could also mean rest. For those who are in Christ there is the blessed promise of eternal rest. The day is coming for all to come into eternal the realms. There it is that we will either receive eternal rest (quietness) or eternal judgment. Rest is an effect of righteousness. And the only way any person can be righteous before God is through Jesus Christ. If we come before God claiming our own righteousness we will find that we fall far short of His standards. And judgment will fall. But if we stand before Him in the righteousness that is through Christ, eternal rest is promised.

Rest in this life is also an effect of righteousness. While the storms of life rage, we have great rest available to us in realizing Who it is that is with us in them. He has promised that He will never leave us or forsake us. Those around us may forsake us, but not the God of the universe. We must learn to lean on Him, and be at rest. Peter wanted to walk on the sea in the storm on the Sea of Galilee. As long as he looked to Jesus he walked. He was at rest in the storm.

The other effect of righteousness is assurance. Confidence is a quality that many seek. Like Peter, Paul was in a great storm on the Mediterranean Sea. After two weeks of being tossed about on the sea, Paul spoke to the sailors this way, "... Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me." His belief in God, here testified, gave him confidence that they would all be spared, for God said it would be so. And, they all were spared.

Again, assurance is an eternal quality. Paul’s experience on the Mediterranean finally came to an end. But in his writings he speaks of the assurance of being in God’s presence forever. While he was used of God to write much of the New Testament, Paul was not any greater than any of us. If he could speak of such assurance before God, so can we. For he, too, was a mere man; a sinner. He said, "There is no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus." Through Christ there is assurance. He also said, "I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."

Peace, quietness, assurance. All available to those who are righteous. Righteousness ... available only through Jesus Christ.

HJK