What the World Cannot Take

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

There are a lot of things that the world cannot give us. It can do its best and try really hard to give us everything we need, but in the end, it will always fail. The world simply does not have the capacity to give us absolute assurances in all things. The only thing the world can guarantee to provide is uncertainty.

I have been thinking about the things that the world cannot give, and today’s verse reminded me that it cannot give lasting peace. There is a lot of talk about peace in the midst of war, but out of all the countries that have been involved in peace-talks, how many actually live with undisturbed peace? This in turn tells me that the world cannot offer real hope. It can give us a glimmer of it from time to time, but it can just as quickly snatch it away again.

The Bible tells us that in this world we will experience trouble and fear, and the only thing that destroys fear is perfect love. The world cannot give perfect love because that kind of love is unconditional, and everything – absolutely everything – that the world gives has conditions. There are conditions on employment and contracts can be terminated. There are conditions attached to property and they can be repossessed. When it comes to hospital appointments, everything is unpredictable and they can easily be taken away.

Not as the world gives do I give to you… John 14:27

This is a truth worth remembering. The world cannot take away the things that it does not give.

Deep inner peace. Eternal hope. Unconditional love. These are the things that come from God and which become a reality through the Lord Jesus and the presence of His Spirit in our lives. They are part of God’s bounty of gifts, and they come with a 100% guarantee.

Think about this truth today: What God’s gives, the world cannot take away.