Peace I Leave With You August 8, 2016

For years pastors and priests have emphasized the benefit of salvation as the main selling point of Christianity.  Come on down to the alter and avoid the lake of fire!  Recite the believers' prayer and get to spend eternity on streets of gold!  I am not belittling this approach to Christianity and most certainly not minimizing the importance of eternity with God.  In fact, at the end of the day, it is this heavenly forever that is the ultimate reward of a life given to Jesus Christ.  However, in today's world that may not be enough to keep Christianity relevant and appealing to the masses.

 
Delta Says Flights Grounded Nationwide
American Boldly Calls out Russian "Cheater"
Iran is Ready to Attack Israel
Macedonia Hit by Torrential Rain and Flooding
Video of Silicon Valley Mogul Kicking  His Girlfriend 117 Times Could Sent Him To Jail

These are just some of the headlines on today's Yahoo News webpages.  Not a very uplifting way to start the week.  The world is spiraling out of control.  Wars and rumors of wars are as common as mice in a grain silo.  Terrorist attacks and hateful politicians dominate the news.  It is easy to feel powerless and despondent.  And in many ways, we are powerless to stop the world's steady march to self-destruction.  But Christianity offers on option to how we can cope with the headlines.

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 hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.  
John 14:27 ESV

^{28 "}Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 ESV  

Yes, where we spend eternity is the ultimate personal value of Christianity, but that hope so often is not what we need to get us through today.  It is the peace, the comfort, the guidance we can access each moment of each day that makes a personal relationship with Christ relevant in the here and now.  Unbelievers need peace.  They need comfort.  They need hope.  Jesus gives those in abundance.  Perhaps that is the message the world needs to hear first.