Is there really peace on earth? Can you have peace despite your circumstances?
"Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"
15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Let's go to Bethlehem! Let's see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." 16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.
The shepherds in the field watching their flock during the night were not very likely candidates to have such an amazing announcement made to them. God's Son has just made his entrance into the world that he created and the event is announced to some dirty, unlikable working class guys on the night shift.
The angels tell them that they don't need to be afraid, they are here with the best news that there has ever been, they announce that Jesus is born and tell the shepherds how to find him and then they break out into praise and worship.
How do you define peace?
Most of us would say that it is a lack of trouble and the state of being where nobody is bothering us. That is a good idea but there is a deeper meaning that the Bible talks about.
In the praise and worship that the angels did in front of the shepherds they made it clear that peace comes to the people that please God. The world will try to help you have peace, it is usually a denial of your circumstances or a plan to get rid of the trouble around you, they might even tell you that you need just one more thing that money can buy.
| God's Peace |
|---|
| Jeremiah 33:8-9 I will cleanse them of their sins against Me and forgive all their sins of rebellion. Then this city will bring Me joy, glory, and honor before all the nations of the earth! The people of the world will see all the good I do for My people, and they will tremble with awe at the peace and prosperity I provide for them. |
A good relationship with God is the key. A sign of a false prophet in the Old Testament was their message of peace that came without any repentance. The real prophets message told the people that peace could never be achieved without righteousness and justice.
Even with great trials we can still be at peace. Consider the fact that Jesus told his disciples that he was giving them the gift of real peace just hours before he would calmly go on trial and be crucified. (John 14:27) And then there is Paul, a man that had plenty of sorrow and hardships, he told many of the churches that he started that followers of Jesus have peace with God despite the persecution. (Romans 5:1-3, Philippians 4:6-7)
Yes, there is peace on earth, you just have to look beyond the cheap peace of this world. You just have to know the Prince of Peace.
