AND GOD ENTERED INTO OUR MESS…

Every year, around this time, we hear beloved Christmas carols about “peace on earth and good will to men.” And it’s beautiful. But if the angels were truly declaring peace on earth…… then where is that peace?

We look at the world around us and all we see are the wars and uprisings, violence, pain and brokenness, and it has been going on for thousands of years. There are deep divisions not only all over the world, but also across our country, in our own community, in our workplace, maybe even within our families. The walls that divide us are so strong and thick. And we wonder… “Is peace really possible?”

Surely, Jesus’s coming to earth did not stop wars nor did it bring peace among men.

The world is not what it was meant to be, and our lives do not reflect what they should be. God had a very different vision when He created the world. A vision of peace, intimate relationship with Him, and harmonious relationships with others. But sin corrupted everything, walls went up, and chaos ensued.

Yet God loves us so much that He refused to abandon the world to this chaos. So what did He do? He Himself entered into the confusion, into the darkness and the suffering, with one mission: to tear down these walls and restore His peace.

Isaiah prophesied about a child who will be a light in the darkness. A Messiah, a Savior, who will come to draw people back to God. (Isaiah 9:6) He is called “Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”.

And He had a face, the scrunched-up face of an infant—helpless and vulnerable, but He brought another kingdom, where we can finally be at peace with God—forgiven and reconciled to Him, put back in right relationship. Peace with God, because our sins are forgiven.

What these angels were singing about was not peace among men, but peace from God toward men.

God is a just and holy God, and He cannot just forgive everyone without some kind of punishmen for sin. Sin had to be paid. 2 Corinthians 5.21 says:  ^« For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. »

The judgment for our sins was placed upon Jesus, who came to earth with the very purpose of dying on the cross to pay for them.  God imputed all our sins upon Him and If you accept Him as your Savior, God’s wrath will never come upon you, you will be forgiven and at peace with God.

You see, peace is not some government rule or order that stops all wars and terrorism… Peace comes from faith in our Savior Christ Jesus. Peace comes from knowing we are loved of God and forgiven.

The question for you today is… do YOU have that peace?

If you want to have the kind of peace the angels sang about, then you can invite Christ, the Prince of Peace, to come into your life and wash away all your sins. Invite Him into your heart as your Savior who died for the forgiveness of your sins so you could be at peace with God.

That’s why Christmas day, that’s why Jesus was born more than 2000 years ago.