At this time of the year we hear a variety of carols, many about peace on earth. Peace – really!

Is this just a myth, wishful thinking, or the real Bible message?

It is definitely the Bible message, and Christian hope. At the birth of Jesus angels sang:

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

Luke 2:14

The Jewish prophets had said that Jesus would be the ‘prince of peace’.

But the world is in a terrible state, with horrific injustice and two major wars underway right now. So has Christianity failed?

Certainly not! Contrary to popular belief, Christianity was never designed as a national, universal religion. And Jesus never said that the church would spread and fill the earth. Actually, he said the opposite:

For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few

Matthew 7:14

And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains (Mark 13:7-8).

In fact, one of our carols contains the words:

Yet with the woes of sin and strife
The world has suffered long;
Beneath the angel-strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong;

It goes on:

For lo!, the days are hastening on,
By prophet bards foretold,
When with the ever-circling years
Comes round the age of gold
When peace shall over all the earth
Its ancient splendors fling

And that is indeed biblical. The promise is of peace in God’s kingdom on earth, when Jesus returns.

But before that, now in this world of violence and trouble, Christian believers can have peace. Peace  with God, because of Jesus. Notice that the angels referred to those with whom he [God] is pleased. Not everybody, but those who believe.

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ

Romans 5:1

Let us all try to be in that group of believers.

Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay