Jump Start # 3272

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled nor let it be fearful.”

Our verse today is very similar to what we find in Luke, “Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart.” John says, “troubled hearts.” Luke says, “lost hearts.” Within the framework of these two passages, there are several reasons why the disciples could have heart problems. Jesus was leaving. He was first going to be crucified, then raised, then ascended. They wouldn’t have Jesus right with them any more. They would not have Jesus helping them, correcting them, guiding them anymore. They were to be on their own. Faith would have to drive them.

Our hearts become troubled because of problems. And, just who doesn’t have problems. And, if you don’t have enough of your own problems, from toxic co-workers, to health issues, to matters down at the church house, to issues in the family, there are other problems that creep into our lives. High prices. Empty shelves. Balloons floating over the nation.

I was reading some things about Joshua the other day and came across this:

“Problems happen. They happen to rich people, sexy people, educated people, sophisticated people. They happen to retired people, single people, spiritual people and secular people. All people have problems. But not all people see problems the same way. Some people are overcome by problems. Others overcome problems. Some people are left bitter. Others are left better. Some people face their challenges with fear. Others with faith” (Glory Days, pg. 151, 152).

I would add to this, some problems are big and others are small. Some people hide their problems. Others can’t, even if they wanted to. Some problems seem to hang around for a long time. Some problems are a direct result of our choices. We invited the problems into our lives. Some problems come to us uninvited and unannounced. And, some problems change a person. Some are never the same again.

Running through the first two pages of Job, we find a long list of problems that he faced from theft, financially ruined, health problems, marriage issues, death of his children and the lingering question, “Why? Why me?”

I like the joke that says, “The man who says all his problems are behind him, probably drives a school bus.”

Now some observations:

First, trying to find a way to live a problem free life isn’t going to happen. You’ll never see a sign as you enter a city that boasts, “Welcome to a trouble free city.” Nope. No such place exists. Even on vacations, trouble follows us. Flying. Hotels. Rental cars. Crowds. Prices. Somewhere in all of that, there will be a problem. I told someone recently, at every wedding, something doesn’t go as planned. Always. We burn a lot of energy and get easily frustrated when we try to live a problem free life. The dog throws up. The toilet overflows. The car won’t start. The dishwasher makes a funny noise. Your child can’t find his shoes. You left the baby’s favorite blanket at grandma’s house and now he won’t go to sleep. You get to work and the computer is running slow. There’s drama among the staff and they want to pull you into the middle of it. Your head hurts and you forgot to bring aspirin. You forgot a dentist appointment and now they want to charge you for not cancelling it. The trash truck has already passed your house when you remember that you forgot to set it out last night.

Troubles—always.

Second, problems can get to us or we can make the most of the problems. Stress levels fly off the charts when we allow our problems to ruin our days and sour our attitudes and moods. You’re going to have problems, there is no getting around that. Things do not always go the way you planned them. You can cry. You can complain. You can throw yourself a pity party. You can ruin everyone else’s day by talking about how bad your day is, or you navigate through those problems the best you can. Pray. Pray often. Your character and your heart become most visible when people see you through stressful times. Your kids notice. Your spouse notice. Brethren notice. God notices.

Jesus words in our passage puts us in control of things. Let not your heart be troubled is a choice. One can say, “I can’t help it. These problems came into my life and now I am bothered and upset.” That’s how we see things. Jesus said, don’t let that happen. Troubles may come but they do not have to trouble you. He added, do not let your heart become “fearful.” Troubles always seem the worse at night. Our minds always assume the worst. Yet, with the morning light, and a day full of activities, our troubles seem more manageable.

Third, keep the heavenly perspective. Two things to remember here. First, God is always upon the throne. Always. Prayer to Him helps. He hears. He listens. He responds. Second, all of our troubles stay here. There won’t be any troubles following you into Heaven. The is an end to our troubles. Our troubles are not eternal. That gives us hope and allows us to endure.

One of our hymns begins with these words, “Troublesome times are here, filling mens hearts with fear.” So true. So profound. It can be discouraging or we can realize, This world is not our home. Troubles make us long even more for that Heavenly home with our Father.

Let not your heart be troubled…sure is something to think about, especially in these troubled times.

Roger

Jump Start # 1156

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”

Our times are not peaceful. A passenger jetliner is shot down over the Ukraine. How much Russia was involved is unclear. Israel and Hamas are shooting rockets at each other every day. The world is uncertain if Iran has a nuclear bomb. School girls have been kidnapped in Nigeria. Terror attacks and threats are spreading world wide. These are very uncertain times. Nations are not getting along. Jesus’ words for peace are welcome words.

Our passage is taken from the long dialogue Jesus had with His apostles before the cross. The verse before, Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit to the apostles to teach them and to remind them of the things Jesus said. Accuracy in God’s message is important. Most can not remember accurately conversations and lessons they heard a few months ago, let alone two or three years ago. These apostles had been with Jesus for three years. Those three years had been stuffed full of lessons, teachings and sermons. Jesus was now heading to the cross. He would not be with them. They would be sent out preaching Jesus’ message. Would they remember? Would they get it right? The Holy Spirit came upon them, such as in Acts 2, to complete and fulfill God’s plans.

Then comes our verse. Jesus promises to leave His peace with them. His peace, He tells us, is not like the peace that the world gives. It’s different. Have you ever thought about that?

The peace the world offers is external. It’s based upon treaties, signed papers, handshakes and promises. The history of the world shows that these signed papers do not last long. The treaties are broken and wars start up. In Kansas City, where I once lived, is the national WWI memorial. That was to be the war that ends all wars. It didn’t. The agreements forged out to end that war were broken just a few years later.

The peace the world offers never lasts. There are brief moments of rest, but before long, someone invades another land, someone violates the national laws of another country, and troops are sent, threats are made, and wars start. It has long been known that the old men make the war and the young men die in the war. Maybe if the politicians who made the war had to go fight in the war, there would be less war. The peace that the world offers never lasts.

The peace that the world offers is always based upon two parties. One side can be genuine and honest and the other side has their fingers crossed behind their backs and has no interests in settling differences. It’s hard to have peace when dealing with others.

Jesus’ peace is not like this. It’s not like the world’s peace. How is it different?

First, what Jesus was offering was not signed papers between nations, promising not to bomb each other. The peace of Christ involved a person and God. Because of sin, we are separated from God. We are at odds with God. There is enmity between us. One of the words of salvation is “reconciliation.” Christ brought us together. There was a bond of peace between you and God. This peace is personal and intimate. It is about your salvation. It involves no one other than you and God.

Second, the peace of Christ is internal. It is about relationships between you and God. It is built upon faith, forgiveness, love and trust. A broken relationship is restored. Hope is promised. Goodness abounds. A person’s eternal destiny is changed because he now has peace with God.

Third, this peace is lasting. It is not affected by national news, or even congregational peace or even drama in a family. None of those things alter the relationship one has with Christ. None can alter this peace except a person refusing to walk with Christ. That’s a personal choice. It’s up to the individual.

Fourth, the peace of Christ changes a person and this change affects and influences all other relationships he has. Because someone has peace with God, his character is molded to be like Christ. Now his marriage improves. Now his attitude towards others improves. Now his outlook changes. Less about self and more about serving. Grace and forgiveness is offered to others, just as it was offered to him by God. The peace of Christ has changed all other relationships. It begins with God.

Jesus said in the beatitudes, “blessed are the peace makers.” Many enjoy peace. Most want peace. This thought is about those who MAKE the peace. They go into a situation where there is no peace and now peace is made. Applications can be made to nations, marriages and neighborhood fusses. But the intent is between man and God. Blessed are those who make peace between you and God. Blessed are those who bring you home to God. This is done through the teaching of God’s word. This is accomplished by the godly counsel that leads to repentance and the breaking of the stubborn will that will not listen to God. Peacemakers are those engaged in God’s business of making and restoring relationships with God.

My peace I give to you. Calm in an unsettled world. Free from worry. Hearts that no longer are troubled. Hope that is real and based upon God. Friendship with God. This is what Jesus gave. It is more important and greater than signed papers between national leaders. If everyone had this peace, there would be no more wars. The reason that wars exist, whether between nations, in marriages or between co-workers, is because someone doesn’t have peace with God. Peace with God will lead to peace with one another. Until we start with God, there will always be wars, external and internal. The greatest war and turmoil is what rages within our hearts. Living without God. Facing death with God not as a friend. Living without forgiveness. Walking on your own, without Christ. This is the greatest tragedy. This is the greatest war.

It doesn’t have to be that way. It is, because we don’t know Christ.

My peace I give you. What a great promise. Do you live with it? Do you know it? Do you share it with others?

Roger