Advent. Peace.

Tomorrow brings the second Sunday of Advent. Last week I wrote a Haiku poem on waiting. This week, another one titled “Peace”.

Peace. These days such a concept seems unattainable, elusive, like grasping for the wind. As much as we strive, we never lay hold of it.

Turn on the television and there awaits for the viewer detailed reports of war, it’s destruction, and rumors of war, full of what-if’s and what-could-be, all meant to instill fear and insecurity. Peace retreats to the shadows.

Open your social media feed and you’ll mostly find the aftermath of fingers filled with bitterness and scorn which typed freely what their tongues may not even speak – complaints, personal attacks, berating sarcasm. Next to these angry posts you’ll find ads to tempt your every taste bud. Calls to buy immaculately clean area rugs with muddy dogs on them, ultimate decor for your magazine worthy home, mouth-watering meals prepared just so (and in under 10 minutes of course), oh-so-stylish clothing modelled on oh-so-perfect bodies, and baby toys the most loving grandparents would buy – if you thought it, you’ll find an ad for it. Each an attempt to keep you always wanting, never satisfied. The insatiable fire of discontentment blazes its path and leaves the peace you loosely held splintered and scorched like a desolate, charred forest.

Peace on earth seems absent. Yet Jesus, the Prince of Peace, came to bring peace. So why is there no peace on earth?

Shalom is the Hebrew word for peace. Shalom means “completeness, soundness, welfare, peace.” It also describes the relationship between two parties. Biblically speaking, these would be our relationships with God, others and within ourselves.

Though we were created to be in perfect fellowship with God (Genesis Ch. 1), when Adam chose to rebel against God and fell from His presence (Genesis Ch. 3), so did we all. All of humanity stands separated from God as we, from our battle lines drawn on the opposite side of eternity, shake our puny rebellious fists at the Almighty. We are at war with God. We are incomplete and unsound without Him. Because we have no shalom with God, we can have no lasting peace in any other relationship, including within ourselves.

Christ is the Prince of Peace. Through Him our war with God is ended. See what the Scriptures says:

“It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus, our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 4:24-5:1

and….

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.” Romans 5:8-10

Jesus came that first Christmas to bring shalom, peace – first between God and man (for those who would believe). Restored now to our Creator, we have peace with others and within ourselves. That is a wonderful gift indeed.

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3

Do you know this peace? Make truce with God and you will find it.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.” Isaiah 9:6-7