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What a sick joke!
Peace!! Where is it?
In the last 50years we have had over 100 different wars in Yugoslavia, Zaire, Afghanistan, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq…
So if that's the xmas message you can keep it!
Perhaps you find xmas full of stress - wives & mothers (and househusbands) slaving in the kitchen, then all those stacked trolleys full of chocolates, nuts, sherry, lager and then all those family squabbles!
The tragedy is that so many people feel the frustration expressed by John Lennon all those years ago,
"So this is xmas and what have we done?"
Perhaps, like many, you're not even sure what you're supposed to be celebrating anyway - the death of a turkey?
No, it's not about the death of a turkey it's about the birth of a Son! It isn't xmas at all - it's CHRISTmas. It's all about Jesus Christ, the Son of God - and unless we take the trouble to find out more about Him then actually we have nothing to celebrate. How many people will celebrate this Christmas and not have any idea why, or memory of how and with whom? How many will turn their nose up in disgust at the commercialisation of Christmas but do nothing about it except moan and complain - and spend money anyway? "Where is the peace", they will say?
In verse 14 of our reading this week we find these words:
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth
peace to men on whom his favour rests."
In John 14:27 we find Jesus making a very special promise of peace:
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.
I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled
and do not be afraid."
At the time of Jesus' birth the Roman world enjoyed the Pax Romana (Roman peace) which was marked by a form of civil rest, or outward tranquillity. This is what the world is so aware of as being missing when they think of peace on earth. The angels spoke of another peace; a peace between God and those on whom his favour rests, or those with whom he is pleased. With whom is God pleased? In Paul's letter to the church at Rome we read:
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained
access by faith into this grace in which we now stand." (Ro.5:1-2)
God is pleased with all those who exercise faith in his Son. It is by grace, through faith that we are put right with God (Ro.2:21-26), and, as Paul put it, "we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ".
You see, God has never promised us peace between the nations, nor between men & women, but He has promised peace forever between Himself and all those who admit to God that they are selfish, proud, spiteful, sly, sneaky - sinful, and who trust in Jesus Christ for forgiveness.
Perhaps you know you have messed up your life big time! Maybe you have tried to live a good life, a religious life, and found yourself still falling short of the mark, aware of your struggles with sin. Well, whatever you've done, whoever you are - God loves you and sent Jesus to this earth to die for people like you!
The great news is that you too, if you confess to God, can be forgiven and enjoy peace with God.
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance; Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst."
May you know a blessed and truly peaceful Christmas.
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