Peace and the Cross

The night before Jesus died, he spent his time with his disciples, giving them last minute instructions, teaching them, and just being with them. He starts out his time of instruction talking about trouble, "Let not your hearts be troubled..." (John 14: 1; ESV).  And he ends his conversation by coming back again to the theme of trouble, but adds a note of comfort. "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33-34; ESV).That sounds about right, doesn't it? Job says, "But man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward." (Job 5:7; ESV). It is just the human condition, is it not? We are always in trouble, getting over some trouble, contemplating someone else's trouble, or avoiding trouble. Even if you find success in life, trouble will find you. You don't even have to look for it. I was reading a Tom Reacher book a few years ago and one of the characters in the book is rich and successful and living the good life when in the span of four months he saw his wife killed, his only daughter disappearred, and while in surgery to remove a bullet, discovered he has cancer. The surgery and chemo left his face hideous and he only had five months to live. All of his success couldn't stop the possibilities for trouble to find him. The effect was devastating and wore him down to a heart sick grief. Here is how he described the effect of this trouble in his life - “Grief,” he said, “is carnivorous. It feeds, whether you’re awake or not, whether you fight it or you don’t. Much like cancer. And one morning you wake up and all those other emotions - joy, envy, greed, even love - are swallowed by it. And you’re alone with grief, naked to it. And it owns you.”So trouble will find you. No one gets a hall pass and if you don't have adequate resources, it will poison your life. What do you do? Be a victim? Play the martyr? Wallow in self-pity? The good news is that Jesus says none of those options are viable. In fact, because he says he has overcome the world, you can actually have peace, not peace in spite of trouble; but peace in the midst of trouble.You say, well how can I get that? Oh, I want it for you, but it would take to long to explain it in this blog. You will have to join us this Sunday to hear some really good news.Blessings,Jim