Longing for Peace
Anybody ever just long for peace? I don’t mean the, “Can’t we all just get along?” kind of peace made popular by Rodney King during the LA Riots of the 1990’s. That’s far to superficial. And I don’t mean the kind of peace that comes from your personal time with a cup of coffee, some quiet music, and a good book (that you can fall-asleep to as much as read). That’s more “peace and quiet” time and disconnected from true relational peace. I mean true peace, where war and rumors of war, unrest and riots, flaming hatred and relational discord don’t exist? Where economic and social disparities wouldn’t always leave some with more, some with less, and no one satisfied? Does anybody just long for true equality, contentment and peace?
Advent is one of those seasons when we remind ourselves that peace is possible. In fact, Jesus revealed what peace looks like. Yet, we know that even his life, death and ultimate resurrection did not usher in the complete peace that we long for. Just this week I was watching protestors get shot at in Iran, while last week China experienced civil unrest due to elections occurring there. The wars and disputes in Eastern Congo continue to displace and disrupt lives for people there. Right here at home people are protesting a new law that portends more injustice for people already overwhelmed by it. Everywhere we look we can find evidence that peace does not reign.
Yet, Advent reminds us that Jesus did come once and modeled true peace. We now eagerly wait for His coming again. Isaiah 9:6 calls him, prophetically, the “Prince of Peace.” In verse 7 Isaiah says that his authority will grow continually and there shall be endless peace. That is what we continue to wait for. It is coming. It is part of the hope that we must cling to when our world is anything but peaceful.
Imagine the day when the only power that reigns supreme is Jesus Christ? In fact, peace won’t be defined by power, but simply by his authoritative reign. We know the rules. We know him to be peaceful, loving, kind and a wonderful counselor. We know him to be fair, just, creative and fun. We know him to be holy, pure, righteous and satisfying. He will wipe away all bitterness, anger, hatred, discord. He will establish his order and justice. He will supply his wisdom to the most intractable situations. He will heal both physically and emotionally. He will reign supreme; not with a power play, but with ultimate authority. Imagine that kind of peace.
This holiday season we enter into Advent - a season filled with expectations of Christ’s coming. Isaiah helps us remember that there was a time when the people of Israel longed for peace and needed the hope of a promised Messiah in the midst of what looked like potential annihilation. Isaiah spoke hope into their situation. Then Christ came, nearly 800 years later, into a similarly hopeless situation. He was the Messiah that had been promised. He turned the world upside down in a few short years. He rattled the status quo, upended the power structures, even displayed power that confounded the natural order. It is that display and historical reality that now gives us hope that He is alive in us, and is making plans to set all things right in the future. There will be peace like we long for one day.
Until then, we press on with faith that God is who he says he is. He is a God who has been faithful, is trustworthy, and works through us now to extend peace into this world. Yes, he relies on us to intercede and listens to us. In fact, he created us for just such a purpose, to rule and reign with Him. As you reflect on your desire for peace this holiday season, ask yourself how you are contributing to bringing peace to the world around YOU? Advent is about expectations, but also about calling us back to faithful living based on what we hope for. As Hebrews says, “Faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see (Heb. 11:1).” Are you certain of your savior’s birth? Are you certain of his return? Then let’s be agents of the peace we long to see evidenced by extending His peace into the world we can influence.
Longing for Peace with You!
Pastor Scott