“There is no peace,” says the LORD, “for the wicked.” (Isaiah 48:22, NRSV)
In 1962, a woman named Terry married a man named Calvin even before she finished high school. Terry became pregnant and had her first child. Their marriage was rocky. Terry was unstable and often fought with Calvin. She was jealous and vengeful. On the night Calvin finally told her he was divorcing her, Terry shot him in the back with a rifle and killed him.
At the murder trial, Terry claimed her husband was an alcoholic and abusive. She also claimed self-defense in the shooting. Family and friends denied the allegations vehemently, with some saying they had no doubt Terry was capable of murder. Because Terry was pregnant with a second child at the time and because of the arguments of her defense, the jury was swayed and found her not guilty of murder. She was set free.
Now, you might think this would have ended Terry’s problems. It did not. Because of her wicked heart, she was only getting started. Terry had sexual relationships and children with multiple men. She drank heavily and would often leave the children to “party throughout the night” at local bars. She ended up divorcing four times. Neighbors noted that the children were “fearful, high-strung, and anxious”. The neighbors revealed to the police that the children were not allowed to go outside. Eventually, Terry pulled all her children out of school before the eighth grade.
One of Terry’s children told police of abuse in their home. The police didn’t believe it. It took 10 years for the facts to come out. Through torture and violence, Terry killed two of her children. Threatening her husband with the blame, Terry forced him to follow her scheme of hiding the deaths of the children and the abuse. It was discovered that the children had been repeatedly beaten, handcuffed to furniture for months, starved, hog tied with zip ties, and more. Terry was arrested, found guilty, and sentence for murder and child abuse. She has been in prison for 30 years now. Her husband has also been in prison for child abuse and murder.
Family and friends described Terry’s life as not only increasingly violent but one without any remorse. After the murder of her first husband, she got worse and worse. Her crimes escalated. Her children and family suffered greatly. The family was often hungry. The children were abused and fearful. Her husbands suffered all kinds of psychological and physical abuse. There was always violence around Terry, never peace.
In the scripture for today, the Lord God educated the prophet Isaiah with these words: “There is no peace for the wicked” (Isaiah 48:22). Any person with a wicked or evil heart will cause harm wherever they go. People around them will suffer. Sinfulness will escalate. Evil actions will occur. Evil thoughts will become apparent. Chaos and suffering and abuse and neglect will follow these sinners wherever they go and no matter what they do. They can’t help it. Inside mind, heart, and soul, they live unrighteous lives. They do not follow the will of God. Because of their lack of connection with God, they will never have real peace.
Jesus promised His disciples that a true and faithful relationship with Him would change them. He promised the obedient a peace that the world cannot give (John 14:27). It was real peace. It was a lasting peace. Worldly people, sinful people, evil people think they can find peace on their own, without God. They are mistaken. They can only obtain worldly peace. It is not real peace. God’s kind of peace in heart and soul and mind can’t be found in worldly pursuits. You can’t buy it. You can’t take it. God’s kind of peace only comes when you are in a committed and true relationship with Almighty God. There is no substitute.
The prophet Jeremiah exposed the sin of the people of Israel and Judah in ancient times. As a prophet of God, he was aware of the evil spreading in the land. He warned the people to change their ways. He explained the ramifications of their sin. Jeremiah even chastised the religious leaders of the day who covered up sinful living by preaching “Peace and more peace, when there was no peace” (Jeremiah 6:14 and 8:11). When sin occurs, peace leaves heart and soul and mind. People who live in sin experience no peace, no matter what they do. Only those in a right relationship with God can truly experience godly peace.
If you ever find yourself anxious and worried, take note. Is your relationship with God damaged? Is there some sin that is affecting your soul? If anger or frustration are bubbling over, if you can’t sleep at night because of fears or insecurities, if your past haunts you, it is high time you make things right with God. You will need to change your ways and change your thinking. You must confess your sin and atone for your errors. Otherwise, you will never feel true, godly peace for the rest of your days.
I have witnessed the change in those who confessed their sins and made things right with God. I have seen the power of forgiveness and grace. I have seen the joy come back to their eyes. I have relished the peace that enveloped their heart and soul and mind. If you want true peace, it can’t be bought or obtained by any earthly means. It can only come when you are in a right relationship with your Lord and Creator. Obey your Lord. Make things right. Seek forgiveness and redemption. Live faithfully. Find peace.
At the murder trial, Terry claimed her husband was an alcoholic and abusive. She also claimed self-defense in the shooting. Family and friends denied the allegations vehemently, with some saying they had no doubt Terry was capable of murder. Because Terry was pregnant with a second child at the time and because of the arguments of her defense, the jury was swayed and found her not guilty of murder. She was set free.
Now, you might think this would have ended Terry’s problems. It did not. Because of her wicked heart, she was only getting started. Terry had sexual relationships and children with multiple men. She drank heavily and would often leave the children to “party throughout the night” at local bars. She ended up divorcing four times. Neighbors noted that the children were “fearful, high-strung, and anxious”. The neighbors revealed to the police that the children were not allowed to go outside. Eventually, Terry pulled all her children out of school before the eighth grade.
One of Terry’s children told police of abuse in their home. The police didn’t believe it. It took 10 years for the facts to come out. Through torture and violence, Terry killed two of her children. Threatening her husband with the blame, Terry forced him to follow her scheme of hiding the deaths of the children and the abuse. It was discovered that the children had been repeatedly beaten, handcuffed to furniture for months, starved, hog tied with zip ties, and more. Terry was arrested, found guilty, and sentence for murder and child abuse. She has been in prison for 30 years now. Her husband has also been in prison for child abuse and murder.
Family and friends described Terry’s life as not only increasingly violent but one without any remorse. After the murder of her first husband, she got worse and worse. Her crimes escalated. Her children and family suffered greatly. The family was often hungry. The children were abused and fearful. Her husbands suffered all kinds of psychological and physical abuse. There was always violence around Terry, never peace.
In the scripture for today, the Lord God educated the prophet Isaiah with these words: “There is no peace for the wicked” (Isaiah 48:22). Any person with a wicked or evil heart will cause harm wherever they go. People around them will suffer. Sinfulness will escalate. Evil actions will occur. Evil thoughts will become apparent. Chaos and suffering and abuse and neglect will follow these sinners wherever they go and no matter what they do. They can’t help it. Inside mind, heart, and soul, they live unrighteous lives. They do not follow the will of God. Because of their lack of connection with God, they will never have real peace.
Jesus promised His disciples that a true and faithful relationship with Him would change them. He promised the obedient a peace that the world cannot give (John 14:27). It was real peace. It was a lasting peace. Worldly people, sinful people, evil people think they can find peace on their own, without God. They are mistaken. They can only obtain worldly peace. It is not real peace. God’s kind of peace in heart and soul and mind can’t be found in worldly pursuits. You can’t buy it. You can’t take it. God’s kind of peace only comes when you are in a committed and true relationship with Almighty God. There is no substitute.
The prophet Jeremiah exposed the sin of the people of Israel and Judah in ancient times. As a prophet of God, he was aware of the evil spreading in the land. He warned the people to change their ways. He explained the ramifications of their sin. Jeremiah even chastised the religious leaders of the day who covered up sinful living by preaching “Peace and more peace, when there was no peace” (Jeremiah 6:14 and 8:11). When sin occurs, peace leaves heart and soul and mind. People who live in sin experience no peace, no matter what they do. Only those in a right relationship with God can truly experience godly peace.
If you ever find yourself anxious and worried, take note. Is your relationship with God damaged? Is there some sin that is affecting your soul? If anger or frustration are bubbling over, if you can’t sleep at night because of fears or insecurities, if your past haunts you, it is high time you make things right with God. You will need to change your ways and change your thinking. You must confess your sin and atone for your errors. Otherwise, you will never feel true, godly peace for the rest of your days.
I have witnessed the change in those who confessed their sins and made things right with God. I have seen the power of forgiveness and grace. I have seen the joy come back to their eyes. I have relished the peace that enveloped their heart and soul and mind. If you want true peace, it can’t be bought or obtained by any earthly means. It can only come when you are in a right relationship with your Lord and Creator. Obey your Lord. Make things right. Seek forgiveness and redemption. Live faithfully. Find peace.