December 14, 2022 – Advent Text: Isaiah 9:6
Dear Friends in Christ,
Are we at peace tonight? In one way, yes. Our church is pretty peaceful in the evening. The lights of Advent/Christmas, the cross, the banner, the fellowship of our fellow members. We can come into this sanctuary and have a peaceful time.
How far to do we have to venture before that peace starts to wane? Economic uncertainty, government honesty and encroachment, conflict in the home, random killings. Take a wider path and nations continue to fight nations. There has never been a time in our lifetimes where countries have not been at war with one another. We have men and women around the world trying to keep the peace. It’s a battle.
We need some help, but not from human beings who have shunned God and therefore find themselves jumping from one failed solution to another. There is only One who can give us help. We are preparing to celebrate His birth.
“THIS CHILD IS . . . THE PRINCE OF PEACE”
Let’s fix these words on our hearts this evening as they continue to build and intensify. “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place (must, not might), but the end is not yet. For nations will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.” (Matt. 24:7-8)
Why do men and women continue to think we can find peace within ourselves? Is heaven on earth within the grasp of man? Do these words of Jesus say anything close to that? Has the Camp David Peace Accord or Détente or any other various peace agreements held on forever? The first peace treaty was in 3100 BC and the latest in 2021. In between have been thousands of such pacts. Do you see the peace that they strive for?
Have you seen this bumper sticker? “It has become appallingly clear that our technology has surpassed our humanity.” What our technology has done is exacerbate the flaws of humanity. It intrudes into our personal lives, created a massive arena for gossip and slander, distracts communication and thought, and has dumbed down worship and growth in the Word of God. In the last month I have had two instances of church business. What used to take a one-minute phone call now takes 20 minutes on a computer and the frustration of creating another password. Why, oh why, must be complicate things? Peace, hah!
We need these words of Jesus. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you.” (John 14:27). We need His peace. When we stand before God we “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” We are enemies of God, separated from God by our sin. We have no peace within ourselves apart from Christ.
Christ intervened. “But God shows his love for us in this, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God is at peace with us. For the sake of Christ’s suffering and death, the wrath against us because of sin has been removed. We are no longer an enemy of God.
Commentator Gary P. Baumler writes: “Jesus’ peace is not the same as the world’s peace. It doesn’t depend on harmony between countries and tranquility in families. It isn’t as fragile as the next temper flare-up or grab for power. It isn’t disturbed by plans gone awry. Even Jesus’ arrest, trial, torture, and crucifixion couldn’t cancel it. Jesus’ peace calms troubled hearts and makes fearful hearts confident. His peace transcends human understanding and sustains us in all conditions. His peace keeps us at one with God and serene in our salvation. We need not be afraid or overcome by troubled hearts.”
How significant are the words of Paul? “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Jesus’ peace is beyond us. It is above man’s mind. It is grace. Though still sinful and at times ignoring God and our walk with Him, because of the work of Jesus, He is always there and He always loves us.
Of course, we still live in the moment. Our lives can be chaotic. The world a wicked place. Shortly after the Apostle Paul was stoned at Lystra, the disciples declared to the church then – and now – “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” No commentary needed. Just our ears.
As King David wrote, “I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…”. We venture through it day by day. Yet, our Prince of Peace, who has gone ahead of us says, “I have overcome the world.” He has. The Prince of Peace says, “Let not your hearts be troubled.” It is the Prince of Peace who says to our still sinful ways, “…whoever believes…is not condemned.”
Finally, it is this Prince of Peace who enters our daily walk in the valley of the shadow of death and enables us to say, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Amen.