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)
In eighth grade I was presented with the magic of Litmus Paper. I capitalized those words because the magic of Litmus Paper still astonishes me. A drop or two of a particular liquid, placed on Litmus Paper, could be declared Acidic, or Base. I was never sure WHY I needed to know that. But the fact that I COULD was very important to my budding scientific mind.
These statements about peace are a part of Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer. Toward the end of His earthly ministry, He acts succinctly as the High Priest of His people and brings us before the throne of His Heavenly Father. During His prayer, he contrasts His Kingdom with the world seven times.
That contrast is obviously important.
While we often yearn to be included and inclusive, be tolerated and tolerate, be welcomed and welcome, Jesus draws a pretty sharp line between His kingdom and the world.
It almost sounds like the beginning of a joke: “There are two kinds of people in the world…” But it is not really very funny.
One of the differences between His Kingdom and the world is that His kingdom brings peace and ends trouble and fear for the hearts of His people, while the world does not bring those things.
Jesus presents a litmus test. A way to know what Kingdom we are in. And while I never understand why I needed to know Acid or Base, I do know why I need to know my citizenship.
Jesus’ Kingdom brings peace. His Kingdom ends troubled and fearful hearts.
If I am living in fear, my feet are standing in the wrong Kingdom. It’s a Litmus Test.
But it is not a Litmus Test intended to make me feel guilty. If I find myself afraid, the solution is not to add yet another fear. The solution comes from noticing that my fear is caused by my feet standing in the wrong Kingdom, and choosing to embrace Jesus’ embrace.
If I like my fear or enjoy a troubled heart; or if I don’t mind worrying, then I can keep my feet where they are.
But Jesus tells His disciples (and us) of a better place for my feet. I can stand in HIS Kingdom and have peace.
Fear not, because of His Kingdom.