Thought For Today – December 27
The Message Of Christmas - Peace On
Earth!
The message of Christmas is peace
on earth, good will toward men . Up until the time that Christ was
born, the world was in a state of profound darkness and enmity
against God. Because of unbelief and sin, mankind had been expelled
from the presence of God, when in Adam and Eve, they were driven from
the paradise of Eden. From that time forward to the time of Christ,
men knew God only as the higher power, the I am that I am, the
tyrant God of the universe whom they thought poured out his wrath
upon all those who could not measure up to his demands for holiness.
Consequently, mankind was afraid and at war with God Because men and
women, boys and girls, were estranged from God, they became enemies
one with another. Cain slew his brother Abel because Abel 's
sacrificial offering was accepted by God and his was not. Men began
to murder, steal, lie, and commit adultery, and commit all manner of
atrocities against one another until the world was so filled with
such gross darkness that even when the light of the world was turned
on at the appearance of Christ at his first advent, It was necessary
for God to send a messenger in the person of John the Baptist to
proclaim that the light had been turned on.
Men have been at war with one
another from the beginning of time – man against man, brother
against brother, nation against nation, because all men have been at
war with God.
The world has cried out for peace
on earth, but there can be no peace on earth among men until men and
nations are at peace with God. “There is no peace, saith trhe Lord
unto the wicked.” Isaiah 48: 22. “But the wicked are like the
troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and
dirt. There is no peace saith my God to the wicked.” Isaiah 57:
20, 21. “ We looked for peace, but no good came, and for a time of
health and beheld trouble.” Jeremiah 8: 15.
Men have longed and sought for
peace on earth, even as they were waging war against God. But peace
on earth will never be a reality until each individual is at peace
with God.
This is what Christmas is all
about. God in his mercy took the initiative to make peace between
himself and mankind. The message of peace on earth goodwill toward
men, was that God in his mercy was willing to take the first step and
offer conditions of peace between himself and individual sinners.
God the Father offered to pour out all his wrath for the sins of
mankind on an individual basis, on his only begotten son. If each
individual would receive it as God's unspeakable gift of mercy.
“God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that
whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting
life.” John 3: 16
Jesus, who is known as the prince
of peace, came to earth to make peace between God and individuals, so
that individuals, no longer at war with God because their sins are
forgiven, and consciences cleansed, could have peace with God and one
with another, man with man, and nation with nation.
How about you, my friend, have you
accepted God's condition for peace with him? Are you, by your
reclaimed relationship to God contributing to peace on earth, or are
you still making war with God and man?
“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, Counselor, the
mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of peace.” Isaiah 9:
6. “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the
field keeping watch over their flock by night, and lo, the angel of
the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about
them, and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, fear
not: for behold, I bring you good tiding of great joy, which shall be
to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a
Savior which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you:
ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a
manger. 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 to men.” Luke 2: 8-14. That is-God's
good will toward men that they might be reconciled to him.
The only real peace there can be
on earth is when mankind has turned to Christ for salvation and made
him King of kings, and Lord of lords in their individual heart.
Some day when the Lord returns to
earth, there will be genuine peace on earth, for in that day - “But
with righteousness shall he judge the poor and reprove with equity
for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod
of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the
wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and
faithfulness the girdle of his reins. The wolf also shall dwell
with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the
calf and the young lion and the fatling together: and the lion shall
eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole
of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the
cockatrice's den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy
mountain for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as
the waters cover the sea.” Isaiah 11: 4-9.
We pray that all who read these
lines will find peace with God, and have the peace of God abiding in
your heart. We hope you all had a very joyous Christmas, and looking
forward to that great day when Christ shall reign on earth.
Posted by - Telehelp Publications - From The Book - "Morning thoughts And Meditations"
www.mybiblesbooksandgifts.com
www.telehelppublications.com
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