It is the utmost desire of all, whether believers or not, to live long and enjoy life to the fullest. However, there are hindrances to this and one of them is the need to have peace. Needless to say, the lack of peace creates a lot of anxiety, which eventually results in untold sufferings relationally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Left unchecked, all of these will take their toll on the longevity of life. Therefore, the apostle Peter said, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it” (1 Peter 3:10-11).
A major cause of lack of peace is a loose tongue. The Bible clearly warns us of the destructive consequence of unbridled tongues when it says, “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking” (Prov. 10:19). The more words we utter, the greater the chances are that we say something that can offend others. Offensive words strain relationships and will give us no peace of mind. We become restless, which eventually affects our health. It is not uncommon to see people who have no peace suffering from ulcers and high blood pressure. On the other hand, one who is peaceful enjoys good health, because “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones” (Prov. 17:22). Whether we like it or not, hatred and bitterness can get into our bones and cause dryness, resulting in sickness.
The need to tame the tongue was emphasized by James in his epistle, because the “tongue is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be” (James 3:8-10). Once our words are out, we cannot retrieve them back and they will hurt those who will hear them. Rather than using it for evil, let us use our tongues to glorify God. The better way to control our tongues is to guard our hearts. Jesus said, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks’ (Matt.12:34). Therefore, it is best that the heart be full of good things, so that these will flow out of the mouth.
Since peace is a key to having good days, we need to seek it. But where can we find peace? The peace that the world gives is certainly not the kind of peace that gives us good days. Rather, we need the peace that comes from the Prince of Peace – Jesus Christ. He said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). The apostle Paul described this peace as “the peace that passes all understanding” (Phil. 4:7). Since Jesus is the Prince of Peace, we need to seek him with all of our hearts. Not only should we seek him, but we must also pursue him with all of our might. When peace is slipping away, we have to do everything we can to keep it, even to the point of humbling ourselves before God and men. By doing so, we have everything to gain and nothing to lose.
Another thing that we need to do to see good days is to turn from evil and do good. The apostle Paul emphasized this in his letter to Timothy, saying, “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life” (1 Tim. 6:18-19). By turning from evil and doing good, we receive the righteousness of God. This assures us of enjoying the “life that is truly life”, in that “the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer” (1 Peter 3:12).
Certainly, having long life is a blessing if this is dominated by good days. No one would want to live a day longer if all that they face in life are troubles and pains. To fully enjoy live, let us seek the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, for he said, “I have come that you might have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). The best way to keep him is to pursue peace and turn from evil and do good. Let us enjoy the full and abundant life that he promised. Hallelujah!
