Peace on earth goodwill to men….
Webster's definition of peace; 1. The normal, non-warring
condition of a nation, group of nations or the world. 2. A state of mutual
harmony between people or groups. 3. The normal freedom from civil commotion
and violence of a community. 4. A cessation of freedom from strife or
dissension. If I only look at these
definitions to tell me if peace exists, I would have to answer with a
resounding, NO! Every one of these statements place peace with the human
condition and that just isn't a safe place to base our peace. I too am guilty of thinking that my peace is
tied to the absence of conflict, trials, and hardship in my life. The
peace we seek is not earthbound…
I have thought much about peace in the last few days as
tragedy and evil ascended on an elementary school, as I visited with a single
mom desperately trying to hang on to her home and children, as an abused and weary woman asked for prayer, as I watched a mother who is facing extreme
health issues sing praises. As a little
boy, around the age of ten, on his way home from school walked by my house dropping a load of heavy
boxes, I asked if I could help him home with them and he cautiously said yes. I
helped him pick up the boxes, his books and violin. I asked him are you wrapping Christmas gifts
in all of these boxes? He hung his head
and said, “No, we don’t have any heat at our house, but we have a fireplace and
I found these boxes in the trash at school, so I waited until everyone left
so I could get them and bring them home to help start a fire.” I thought of peace when I saw my own
grandmother with her Alzheimer induced mind living in anything but. What about peace for the thousands that live
in slavery, abandonment, hunger, and danger everyday? I asked again of peace last night standing in
the cold talking to my new friend Alvin, homeless, alcohol addicted and
hungry. The peace we seek is not
earthbound….
The prophet Isaiah prophesied about Jesus coming, saying;
“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government
will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”
Jesus is the Prince of Peace!
When the angels heralded the birth of Jesus they sang praises saying; “Glory
to God in the highest and on earth peace among men, with whom He is well
pleased.” The Prince of Peace, Jesus,
stepped into our human existence as a man and Peace the person dwelt among
us. When Jesus had finished His task on
earth and was on His way to the cross to secure our victory and peace, He spoke
these words, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world
gives, do I give to you. Let not your
heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”
His life here on earth was book-ended with Him as Peace. This peace is defined as; “rest, the end of
striving, this peace is the object of thedivine and saving promise, and is brought
about by God’s mercy, granting deliverance and freedom from all distresses that
are a result of sin.” That is why the message
of salvation through Jesus is called the gospel of peace. The Peace we seek is not earthbound…
This peace we all seek is not found apart from the person of
Jesus. It is not the absence of trials
and hardships it is an abiding knowledge of relationship with the Person of
Peace, Jesus. How I live in that…I’m not
exactly sure…by faith… I keep asking the
Prince of Peace to show me and to rule over my heart. This Peace?
It is divine! The peace we seek
is not earthbound….
Praying the Prince of Peace is known this Christmas season
and through the coming year.
Merry Christmas!
Kim
Peace on Earth song by Lila Mccann;
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