Quiet Brooks and Spring Flowers

“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.” (John 14:25-31 ESV).

This is just about the right time of the year to travel through the Smoky Mountains. One of our favorite stops along the scenic route through the park is near the Little Pigeon River. This time of the year you will be rewarded with the beauty of dogwoods and redbuds in full bloom while listening to the calming sounds of the river. It really is an incredible picture of peace. I have been to these spots many times. It never matters what circumstance might be assaulting my life at the time, I can always feel at peace in this setting. With all the health issues in our path right now, it’s no wonder that Mary told me recently that it is a time to return to the mountains. Those thoughts drew me to our reading today. Jesus tells us that we can have a peace that passes all understanding because it’s a peace that He gives. The world might promise peace and try to achieve it through compromise, collaboration, and consensus. But, that’s not the kind of peace that God gives us. Peace that characterizes the resurrected life is a peace growing from the restored, forgiven relationship with our God. There is an important difference for us to note. The Father didn’t send Jesus to compromise His holiness with our sin; He didn’t send Jesus to collaborate with us. Jesus didn’t come to achieve consensus among a million brothers all of whom miss the mark of His perfection. Jesus stands alone. The reason why God gives us a peace that the world can’t give is because it is a superior peace bought with the blood of Jesus. It is a peace of reconciliation based upon His characteristics of righteousness, holiness, love, sovereignty, wisdom, mercy, truth, and forgiveness. It is His character that defines His peace and it explains why we do not need to be troubled no matter what the world brings and also why we do not need to be afraid in any circumstance. Our peace is with God. Nothing, certainly no earthly troubles can tear us from that peace. I guess that His way of bringing the mountains to me; even though I still like to go there too!