Peace on Earth

 

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

(Luke 2:14 ESV)

 

As we celebrate the season of Christmas, we are often reminded of this refrain. We hear it in church, as the Scriptures are read. We read it in our children’s Bibles, as we share with them the Christmas story. And it’s something we both hear and sing in many of the carols familiar to this season.

 

In Jesus, God has provided us with peace. Peace is received by those with whom God is pleased. It’s received by those upon whom his favor rests.

 

This, however, can seem confusing as our world is anything but peaceful. Wars rage around the globe, even as we speak. And even our own streets, even our own cities and towns, are anything but peaceful.

 

The peace he’s referring to, however, is not a worldly peace. An outward peace, a societal peace, is something that will only be enjoyed only when Christ returns and sin becomes a thing of the past. It’s something that will be enjoyed as we experience life eternal in his everlasting kingdom.

 

What the angels are referring to, as they praise the Lord, is peace with God. We read about this in Romans 5:1, where Paul writes: “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

 

Through Jesus, he says, we have been brought into a state of peace with God. We, in other words, are no longer his enemies. We are no longer in a state of condemnation and wrath. Rather than being under his curse, we are now in his blessing.

 

And this is received through faith in Christ. It, therefore, isn’t something that we deserve. Nor is it something we earn. It’s a gift of God, provided to us in his Son.

 

Jesus provided this blessing to us, as he took on flesh, becoming man. He provided it to us as he lived the perfect life we’re unable to live. He provided it to us as he died on the cross, paying the penalty of our sin. And he provided it to us as he rose from the grave, victorious over death.

 

So even if we are struggling, and even if we don’t feel at peace with God, this remains true. It remains true because it isn’t dependent upon us in any way. It’s dependent only upon Christ and what he has done for us.

 

As we, then, trust in Christ, we can know that we have peace with God. We can have full assurance of this peace. And this truth can offer us comfort in this world that is anything but peaceful.