Luke 2:13 & 14:
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
It has been some 2,000 years since this announcement was declared concerning the birth of the lord Jesus Christ. Peace would be the outcome of his presence upon the earth.
Historians today would unanimously agree that since his birth wars and discontent among people have been the norm, not peace. Did the lord Jesus Christ fail in his mission? What peace was God talking about?
Obviously the peace Jesus Christ introduced was not pertaining to governments and nations, but a very personal peace; a peace that would satisfy the soul regardless of the surrounding turmoil of the world.
The peace Jesus Christ offered was declared in the Old Testament hundreds of years before his coming. These prophesies of Christ brought hope of the Messiah who would bring deliverance and peace.
Isaiah 53:5:
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him: and with his stripes we are healed.
The results of his sacrifice for all mankind brought about phenomenal realities to those who chose to believe and receive. Included was a godly peace. What did this peace entail?
Colossians 1:20:
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.Romans 5:1:
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
The peace we have is a result of confessing Jesus as Lord and believing that God raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9). God’s peace is unmatched by anything man can produce. E.W. Bullinger in his Greek Lexicon defines peace as: “…the end or absence of strife; a state of untroubled, undisturbed well being…” Resident within us is this kind of peace, but on a “God scale”. We can accept it and be satisfied or allow the turmoil of the world to be our basis of how we feel. The choice is: are we going to be carnally minded or spiritually minded. “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” (Romans 8:6).
Ephesians 2:14-18:
For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Can you imagine any greater peace then to have a loving relationship with God?
The angels talking with the shepherds some 2,000 years ago announced a peace that opened the door to a loving caring relationship with the Heavenly Father. His peace would be that absence of strife; a state of untroubled, undisturbed well being beyond anything man could ever provide.
Philippians 4:6 & 7:
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Will there still be wars, hate and discontent among the peoples of the world? Yes there will be, and all the efforts of man to secure peace will be futile. We will have to live with it. One grand difference for the born again believer is that on the inside of our heart will be resident the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. We can remain confident knowing that our God will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). We are forever at peace with the Creator of the heavens and earth.
II Thessalonians 3:16:
Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.- Bob Lindfelt
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
