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!
