Click to Login or Sign Up

Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Focus on Jesus (Cartoon: Church of the Covered Dish) Manna-matic (Cartoon: Beyond the Ark) Water fears (Cartoon: Joe McKeever)
  • John 3:16
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Archive
  • Cartoons
    • Joe McKeever
    • Beyond the Ark
    • Church of the Covered Dish
    • Fletch
    • Preacher’s Kids
  • Contact
  • Louisiana
  • U.S. & Intl
  • Facts & Finds
  • Culture & Society
  • Editorial

Peace on Earth

December 13, 2024

By Will Hall, Baptist Message Executive Editor

ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Today, a bloody civil war is being waged in Syria; Ukraine and Russia are exchanging long range missiles in competing “tactics of terror” against each other; and Israel and Hezbollah continue to launch retaliatory missile strikes for “violations” of a fragile ceasefire agreement reached Nov. 27.
Meanwhile, in Haiti, gangs rule the streets; a two-year war has just ended in Ethiopia (with an estimated death toll of more than 500,000); and the last two years in Myanmar have been marred by wholesale “cleansings” of some ethnic groups, and the displacement of as many as 2.5 million men, women and children.
Additionally, in Sudan, intense violence between competing governmental factions (fighting to capture the lion’s share of newly discovered gold fields) has driven nearly 11 million civilians from their homes in this war-torn region of Africa in 2024, alone.
Indeed, around the world there are 59 active major conflicts, and according to historians, this is the greatest number of simultaneous wars since the end of World War II, in 1945 (which was fought, ironically, a mere two decades after the end of World War I, the “war to end all wars,” in 1918).
The earth is in constant turmoil, wracked by ongoing “wars and rumors of wars,” and amid the oppression, aggression and hostilities, the world groans for peace.
Yet, peace on earth, at least in terms of “the absence of conflict,” simply is not possible as long as there is the presence of sin on earth.
Indeed, peace was not restored in Heaven until a rebellious angel and his followers were cast out (Isaiah 14:12-14; Luke 10:18). Order was not possible in the Garden of Eden until the deceiving serpent was removed (Genesis 3:1-14; Ezekiel 28:12-18). More importantly, the perfection of the universe, the conquest over war and victory over violence will only be achieved with the overthrow of the ancient dragon and the dispatch of him and his minions, forever, to the lake of fire.
Yet God announced through His angels that with the birth of His Son, Jesus, there was “Peace” on earth (Luke 2:14). In fact, what He was declaring was that all mankind, each of us, could experience personal peace through salvation in Christ.
In the end, there will be peace in the universe. However, until that time when all sin is destroyed, peace on earth is only possible through “peacemaking,” or bringing others to know Jesus the Peacemaker (Matthew 5:9).
This Christmas, celebrate the birth of Jesus.
But also look for opportunities to declare “peace on earth” by introducing someone to the Person of Jesus, the Son of God!

Comments

Editorial

The race of faith: a marathon, not a sprint

When I ran cross country, our training involved running Monday through Friday and, occasionally, optional Saturday runs. We did “easy” days, long-distance days, sprint days (the worst), and more, all to make sure that we were in the best shape possible for our 5k race — a little over three miles — which occurred … Read More

Search

  • Trending
  • Recent
  • Must Read

Recent

Report: Americans can afford only 28 percent of homes on the market

Spirit Airlines flight apparently flew through Category 4 hurricane

Shreveport native, Focus on the Family founder James Dobson passes

Must Read

FRC, Baptist leaders urge President Trump to stop mail-order abortions

Louisiana pastor is latest target of nationwide ‘pronoun’ attacks against religious freedom

President Trump: ‘We love you, God, and we love our great military. Protect them.’

Copyright © 2025 · News Pro Theme 2.1 On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in