My favorite Christmas song is Casting Crowns’ rendition of “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote additional verses that are not usually sung. You can read the story behind the song here. It was written during the Civil War, so it was evident to Longfellow that “There is no peace on earth… For hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good-will to men.” Though we are not in the midst of a national war in America now, peace is still lacking in many places and many ways. Peace on earth often seems like a distant dream.
Unfortunately, some Bible translations (KJV in particular) have fostered an erroneous idea. The angels did not proclaim peace to everyone on earth. The ESV more accurately translates Luke 2:14b, “on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased.” It is not a universal peace that is promised, but peace for those who are reconciled with God through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. It is conditional upon our relationship with the Father, which makes us “those with whom He is pleased.”
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). That is the peace we have access to today, which gives us reason to endure the hostility, pain, and difficulty of life in this broken world. However, Longfellow is correct that:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail,
The right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men.”
One day soon, after the Second Coming, we will be able to enjoy universal peace, but not until then. We can look forward to that time of eternal peace, but in the meantime we can celebrate and enjoy the peace that we have with God because we have been reconciled to Him.
We can also experience God’s peace as we entrust all our cares and anxieties to Him. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). Even when there are wars and conflicts, death and disease, God is still sovereign over this earth. He know all that will happen and His love never fails. So we can trust Him and rest in the One who is peace.
If you’re lacking peace this Christmas, trust Jesus Christ as Savior, submit to Him as Lord, and wait upon Him as the soon-returning Prince of Peace.
“May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord” (2 Peter 1:2).
© 2017 Dawn Rutan. The views stated may or may not reflect the beliefs of the pastor or leadership of Dulin’s Grove Church.
