Title – Peace on earth
Christmas can have amazing effects upon people’s behaviour. In the first world war the guns between the opposing armies remained silent on Christmas day – the soldiers, instead of firing guns at each other, played football together in no-man’s land. In a strange way this was a small reflection of the message the angels gave when Jesus was born – “Peace on earth and goodwill between men”. Unfortunately the soldier’s peace only lasted the one day.
Since the angels gave their Christmas message, the history of the world has been very much one of war and conflict – America is in the middle of the longest war it has ever fought and Britain is engaged in several conflicts. Yet the genuine hope of men and women remains the same – that there might be peace on earth. Even on the United Nations building in New York there are words from the Isaiah chapter two, “They shall beat their swords into ploughshares”; symbolising the unified search for peace.
For Jesus’ disciples the hope was (and still remains) that the promise from the angels will come to pass. Even though God caused His Son to be born in lowly surroundings in Bethlehem, the angels said he would become a king and sit on a throne in Jerusalem, ruling the world and bring peace to all nations.
In our dark world of selfishness, greed and unrest, how badly do we want this promise to be fulfilled? How much do we want peace on earth and goodwill amongst men? As you celebrate on Christmas day, please pause just for a moment and contemplate the significance of the day and the bright message of hope the angels gave. Jesus, the light of the world, will return to this dark world and bring everlasting peace.
We hope you have a happy and truly peaceful Christmas.
Copyright Ashby Christadelphian Church, Union Passage, Ashby, LE65 1BW. www.ashbychurch.co.uk
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