My dear readers,

I Found Peace at Calvary

(Dr SH Tow, Reformation Banner Mar/Apr 1978)

THERE IS MUCH TRUTH in the Chinese proverb which says: it is better to be a peace-time dog than a war-time man. For what is life without peace — peace in the land, peace at home and above all, peace in the heart? When human relationships go wrong, peace is lost. Take for example, the lawbreaker. He faces the penalty of the law, and the mere thought of appearing before the judge causes unspeakable mental anguish. When the process of law has taken its course, the lawbreaker is required to pay the price for his offence, whatever it may be. The traffic violator pays a fine, the housebreaker goes to prison, the murderer to the gallows. These are the law's demands.

The law is severe, but it is necessary for the welfare and protection of society. We must all respect the law, or we shall have no peace.

There is yet another law to which we are subject — the law of God our Maker. He rules supreme over human affairs and we are accountable to Him for our actions. God's law is high and holy, and it demands perfect obedience from every man. In our fallen condition, it is impossible to keep God's law. The Bible gives an accurate description of our condition. It says, "There is none righteous, no, not one … For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Rom 3:10, 23). We are all lawbreakers. Furthermore, there is a judgement day coming when we must account for our performance in this life. And while an offender of the law in Singapore may escape detection, none shall escape God's judgement day. On that day, you and I shall appear before Him to receive His righteous judgement.

How have you been doing in your life? Let us pause a moment and consider this question. Have we done our best? And is our best good enough? Can I pass the test of God's all-seeing eyes looking into every area of my life? What would He see if He were to walk through each chamber and concealed corner of my heart? While men look at the outside, God looks at the inside. There is nothing hid from him, for He understands all our imaginations and thoughts. As I examine my own life honestly and soberly, I am overwhelmed by a sense of failure, for I know that my performance is far short of God's requirement. God's standard is perfection in every area and at all times. My failures and imperfections in thought, word and deed, stand out under the searchlight of God's examination. There is no escape. God's Word says, all unrighteousness is sin and the wages of sin is death. And no matter how hard I try by my own self, I find no way of improving my performance. Does this fit in with your experience? It surely does with mine.

So, I find that I am in a desperate and hopeless situation. My performance has earned me nothing but the wages of death. Death means separation from God, the source of life, goodness and happiness. This condition may be likened to that of a little child, lost in the jungle, separated from home and parents, far from the source of life and happiness. His world has collapsed, and so has ours, when we realise that our sins have separated us from God and condemned us to a lifeless and joyless eternity ahead. It is a place called hell. Jesus describes hell as "outer darkness (where there is) be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matt 8:12).

We need someone to deliver us, someone to save from sin, death and hell! I cannot help you, neither can I help myself. We are in the same boat. God's Word is true: "For all have sinned" (Rom 3:23a), "there is none righteous, no, not one" (Rom 3:10). No man, no human being can help me. Help must come from elsewhere. Help must come from God Himself!

In mankind's dark hour, God intervened. The Bible tells us, "The Lord is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Pet 3:9). "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (1 Jn 4:10). God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself. Ponder again the profound last statement.

My friends, that is the meaning of the Cross. That is the meaning of Calvary. On that hill, Jesus laid down His life, and gave Himself "for a world of lost sinners." He gave His precious life-blood as a ransom for many — for you and for me. He died that we might live.

There was a day in my life when I was faced with the problem of sin and its awful consequence. I had no peace as I struggled with that burden. One day, I heard the Gospel. "The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom 6:23). This is Good News. This is the Gospel. The love of God drew me to the Saviour on the cross of Calvary. As I looked, I saw that indeed Jesus had died in my place, the just for the unjust, that He might bring me to God. At that moment, I received Him as my own Saviour, and my burden rolled away. In its place God gave me peace and life everlasting. God's Word is true. "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him" (Jn 3:36).

My dear Reader, if you are troubled by your burden, the Saviour bids you come. I found peace at Calvary, and you can find it too.

Yours faithfully in the Saviour’s Service,

Dr SH Tow, Sr Pastor