Luke 2:13-14, “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
Introduction:
The word “angel” means “messenger.” These angels were simply sharing what God had told them to say. They could not lie, and God cannot lie. So what truth were the angels sharing with the shepherds on the night of Christ’s birth? What did they mean, “on earth peace”?
1. They Did Not Mean There Would Be No More Wars.
Jesus Himself said, “And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” (Matthew 24:6). 2 Timothy 3:1 says, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.” There are many wars happening on earth right now. It is not a time of peace. So obviously the angels did not mean all wars would cease, or God would have been a liar.
2. They Did Not Mean Your Family Would Be At Peace.
In Matthew 10:34-36, Jesus said, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.”
Often when a person accepts Christ as Saviour and begins to live for Him, that person experiences a time of ridicule and criticism by family members. Jesus said again, “Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:” (Luke 12:51). If a person will continue to stand for God, often he or she will see many family members trust Christ as Saviour, too.
3. They Did Not Mean No More Unrest In the Human Soul.
Isaiah 48:22 says, “There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.” God uses unrest in our souls to bring us to Him. I remember when I
was young, I had so many questions about my future. God used that time of “peacelessness” to make me search for Him.
4. They Meant That a Person Who Is Peace Had Visited the
Earth.
Peace is not found in a philosophy, political party, or religion. Isaiah 9:6 makes this proclamation about Jesus: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
Jesus is the Ruler of peace. He decides who should have peace and who should not.
How can we have the peace that Jesus can give?
A. Know Jesus
Job 22:21, “Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.”
B. Love the Word of Jesus (the Bible)
Psalms 119:165, “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.”
C. Pray to Jesus
Philippians 4:6-7, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Conclusion:
People look to many things for peace. But the believer in Jesus can have peace all the time. Ephesians 2:12-14, “That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;”
