The Fourth Advent: Peace on Earth

The fourth candle of advent turns our focus to the peace that was proclaimed hundreds of years before Christ’s birth by Isaiah, and then again on the night of his birth by a chorus of other-worldly beings that emerged from the heavens. Their announcement was made to a company of humble shepherds keeping watch over their flocks of sheep in the hills near Bethlehem. 

It’s hard to imagine what such a proclamation would have meant to the ancient Israelites, but we can we envision “peace on earth” today? We are constantly made aware of volatile situations around the world that have the potential to erupt at any time; there are desperate people fleeing the poverty and violence of their homelands; families are hunkering down in refugee camps, and moms and dads are clutching their children tightly in war-torn and bombed out cities. Seeing the images in the news and watching videos of raw footage online can make the idea of peace seem far-fetched, even ludicrous.

But before peace can come between men to create good will towards each other and a peaceful world for people to live in, peace must live inside of man. 

The apostle Paul talks about the peace of God that “transcends all understanding” (Phil. 4:7). The study notes in my Bible say that this peace is not “merely a psychological state of mind, but inner tranquility based on peace with God – the peaceful state of those whose sins are forgiven." It goes on to say that this peace is God’s “protective custody” of those who are in Christ Jesus and it "extends to the core of their beings and to their deepest intentions” (NIV Study Bible). 

Even though it was almost 26 years ago, the memories of the revolution inside myself caused by the presence of God’s peace are vivid. It was during the time of a traumatizing loss of my younger brother. When the news reached me of his death, it threw me into a state of shock, horror and devastation. Time stood still and the world seemed suddenly so shattered I could hardly breathe. Then, in what seemed but a moment, I was flooded with a sense that I was not alone. Every fiber of my body soothed and calmed, every raw nerve ending quieted.

The peace I experienced in those moments did "transcend understanding" as the verse says. It defied logic or reason because, truly, nothing was okay. It took me a few days to realize that the source of this peace was God himself, but when I clued in my response was to turn to him and entrust my life to him. This peace has remained with me ever since. 

Jesus, the Prince of Peace, has come and he gives his peace to those who seek him. He calls us to live in community with each other, and create what Philip Yancey, in his book Rumours of Another World, calls “alternate” communities or “pioneer settlements” that align themselves with God’s order, not the world’s. 

These “settlements” are communities of faith, beauty, and compassion. They are places where souls are nourished and even in violent places they can take root and flourish. In short, they are communities in which God’s peace rests, and “settlements-in-advance of that coming reign” when Christ makes his promised return (pages 176, 177). 

As pioneers are apt to do, the potential for new settlements is constantly being explored and created by those who have God’s peace and those who understand the mandate to bring this peace to people everywhere, at Christmas time and always.

Have you experienced God’s peace? If not, know that Christ came to make it available to everyone who wants it. Open a Bible or look up the passages online that are listed at the top of this post and below. Here are some questions to consider as you read: What are the promises? What is the good news? What response is sought from you, the reader? 

Suggested readings this week: Isaiah 52:7-10; Micah 5:2-5a; Philippians 4:4-7; Matthew 7:7