Peace On Earth?

In Luke 2:8-14, the angels proclaimed peace on earth. Yet what exactly does peace mean? Ask a hippie and they might give the peace sign and say: “no war.” Ask a mother of three at the end of the day and she might say: “bed time.” Some think peace is having enough money in the bank. For some, peace is found in amassing weopons to thwart off attacks. For others, peace is an ideal that cannot be achieved. For some it is global and for others it is personal. I decided to ask the people in my house what they think it means. Here are there answers word for word:

(My 6 year old): “No worries. When you feel afraid, don’t go being scared. Or when you are lost don’t go being scared either, because God is always with you. Jesus was born on Christmas so we could have peace and never have to be alone again. This makes our lives long and happy.”

(My 9 year old): “Peace to me means that God is with us at all times. He sent his only Son to be with us.”

(My 2 year old): “I want butter beans!”

(My Wife): “It means contentment in your spirit. No inner turmoil.”

I think the peace that the angels proclaimed was much deeper than the absence of war. This peace cannot be gained through a treaty or a feeling. The peace that God brought at Christmas was literally in the flesh, lying in a manger. Jesus is God’s answer to the mystery spoken through the prophets. Even the angels longed to discover how God was going to reconcile sinful humanity unto himself.
His plan was revealed on that Christmas night. God cared enough to come personally. Because he came and made the sacrifice for us, we can now find true peace. This peace that cannot adequately be put into words. It is a peace that is not conditioned on life curcumsances or happiness. It is a peace that truly passes all understanding. It is in fact, a gift. It takes its place in the line of God’s great gifts to his children. It stands next to Joy and Love, among others. If you don’t know that peace, receive Christ as your savior today. If you do know of that peace, take time today and thank God for it.