Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace. –Luke 2:14

             Peace was a prominent part of the prophecies concerning Jesus.

“He will be called…Prince of Peace.”
“Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.”  (Isaiah 9:6b-7a)
Zechariah: John the Baptist, who was to prepare the way for Jesus, would “guide our feet into the path of peace.”
The angels greeting to the shepherds:
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace.”

            I suppose that is nothing which people desire more.  At least that’s what they say in one way or another.  We suffered through many long years of war in Viet Nam, until peace almost became an obsession.  We were “promised peace with honor.”

            At the beginning of the 70’s which was dubbed “The Age of Aquarius” the song promised:

“When the moon is in the seventh house,
and Jupiter aligns with Mars;
Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars
This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius.”

            Surely if we could just bring an end to the “cold war” then we would have peace.  Russia’s collapse did not bring peace to the world.

            As someone has said, It’s like putting kittens in a basket.  Put one in and another pops out,  often at most unexpected times and places:

 Pastor’s wife:  “How did the wedding go?”
“Fine…until I asked the Bride if she would obey and she said,
‘Do you think I’m crazy?’
By now the groom was in sort of a daze, mumbled,
‘I do.’
THEN THINGS BEGAN TO HAPPEN!

            In Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, in our parks, on our streets, among segments of society, in our personal relationships there is conflict.We can feel with the song writer:

“And in despair I bowed by head,
There is no peace on earth I said
For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth.”

            One of Matthew Arnold’s character was described as “world-weary.”

“Her life was turning, turning,
In mazes of heat and sound,
But for peace her soul was yearning…

            What has happened to the Christmas promise of peace?  When will the fruit come?

Well, not yet.  But when God decides “It’s enough,” He will step in.  Jesus will return and establish his reign of peace.

            In the meantime, to those who will let Him, who will place their trust in Jesus, peace is offered.  Isa 26:3 says, You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in you.

            We wait; remembering with the song writer:

“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep.
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth.”

We can understand these words—“He is our peace.”  It is a peace which the world does not understand and cannot give or take away.  He has sent us with this good news of peace, until peace truly comes to all the earth.

Filed under: The Journey |