“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
A guy who worked for me had died and his wife had given me his Bible, telling me that he wanted me to have it. She told me as she handed it to me that it was his wish that I particularly look for the Gospel of John and chapter 14 and verse 27. As I walked away from the widow my curiosity got the better of me. Thumbing through the well-worn pages I came upon the verse. It had been underlined. The ink looked as worn as the Bible and as I read it, I thought even in the grave this guy is not going to leave me alone. Peace, sure easy for him to say now! After all he is dead.
I read the verse over again. This Jesus offers me peace. I shook my head, not likely! I cannot believe that people actually buy into this stuff. I closed the book and wanted to toss it into the nearest garbage can, but I did not want to disrespect the guy’s widow. So, as I climbed into my truck, I shoved the Bible under my seat, and it was forgotten. But I could not seem to forget the verse. It returned to me time and again, because the last thing I had in my life was peace.
A wife who drank more than I and every time we were together there was violent fighting. A job where I had conflict everyday with my boss. No matter how well my crew did, how much work we accomplished, it was never enough. I owed money to drug dealers, bookies and even the bank. Peace was not going to happen in the world I was living in. But that verse, the one line said Jesus gave peace not as the world. I did not believe but I so wanted to. The thing I was sure of if I all of sudden was ‘born again’, as the holy rollers said, my wife would still be a drunk, just like me. I would still be hassled by dealers, bookies, and bills. So how would Jesus deal with all this stuff. I knew my sad truth, whatever peace this Jesus offered was not going to help me. Or so I thought.
Here I am some 35 years later, living in a world even more conflicted than the one I just described. No, I no longer live with the personal issues of those years. I now have a loving wife who supports me and loves me. I am a retired guy, not fighting the battles I once did. I certainly am no longer being chased and threatened by dealers or bookies, so how can I say I live in a world more conflicted? Well, the truth is my life today has challenges I never dreamed of back then. Cancer that has in the last couple of years flared resulting in having to endure over 40 doses of radiation. It has sucked away much of the strength of body that has been a main stay most of my life. The wife who I love also is struggling with autoimmune diseases that have left her with less abilities then she has been used to having available. Adding to this a world-wide virus that leave us with the choice of staying at home protecting ourselves or doing what we believe God has called us to do, share Jesus in a deeply personal way. The conflict has left us searching for the peace we had just a few months ago.
I cannot sit here today and say I have all the answers. But the one thing I can know is what evaded me when I first received that worn Bible so many years ago, the peace that I seek is available to me. And as my long-deceased friend knew back then it only comes when I recognize Jesus’ peace is real, it is here now, and it can take away the fear of uncertainty.
And the reason I can say this today is I know this world is not my home. At the beginning of Chapter 14 of the Gospel of John it says this:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14: 1-3)
The true peace I have today is not how I face this world and all its conflicts but what I now know is true. Jesus is coming again, and he wants to take us to the place he has prepared for us.
So, yes, this world is full of problems and I certainly have mine to deal with day in and day out, just like you do. But if we are keeping our eye on Jesus. If we are knowing that today, we can trust in his promises then each of us will decide something we can do to share him with others. For me, it might be this blog. For RuthAnn she is online right now sharing Jesus with her students. For you, well, pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Just one verse above in Chapter 14, it says this: “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26) Jesus is waiting to guide you and give you the reassurance of his peace that is everlasting!
I still have that old Bible. When I sold that old truck, I took it out from under the seat and threw it in my traveling trunk. From there I do not know how it survived all the twists and turns of my life. But every now and again I take it out and look at that verse, underlined in well worn ink. I pray I will someday meet that good man who willed it to me and say, “I understand now! Thank you!”
Blessings
John
5/11/20
