The Amazing Christmas Story - Part 3

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Luke 2:14  Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (emphasis mine) In the approximate 3,100 years of recorded history, only 287 years, or 92 %, have been recorded without a war somewhere in the world. Over 8,000 peace treaties have been agreed to, and broken. In the year I was born, the Arab-Israeli war was on. When I began junior high school, the Sino-Indian was was just ending, the Cold War was in full swing, and the Viet Nam war was just beginning. Throughout my lifetime, there has not been a year of peace. Today, the Middle East has several war hot spots, North Korea is poised to flex its muscles with a missile launch and African countries are skirmishing in border disputes, race wars and other difficulties. Even at the time of Christ's birth, Quirinius,the governor of Syria, was fighting a war in Macedonia.

Christ came to bring peace to the heart, not to the nations. The disciples expected Christ to become the political and military head of the government  They expected a kingdom, but he came to establish the Kingdom in our hearts. Even today, some Christians believe that somehow the world is going to improve, that things will get better as there is more influence for good. That somehow God's Kingdom is going to be established among the nations. The truth is, we are seeing mankind at its worst, sliding down the slope of complete Godlessness. This season, Christ is still changing lives for good, but He does it like He always has, one at a time. We can help people find Him, and peace. John 14:27 I'm leaving you well and whole. That's my parting gift to you. Peace. I don't leave you the way you're used to being left — feeling abandoned, bereft. So don't be upset. Don't be distraught. (from THE MESSAGE)