Monday, December 6, 2010

"Where's All That Peace And Goodwill We Hear About This Time Of Year?"

So? Where is it? Just the USA alone is fighting wars on two fronts, and a third is brewing. Conflict is broken out in every corner of the globe. Hunger, starvation, pestilence, disease, is at an all time high. Natural disasters are laying waste to entire regions. There have been more earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, and hurricanes than ever before. It seems like if we can't find a disaster we will create our own. Thanks BP.

So, is the Bible lying? You be the judge.

Luke 2:14 - "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is well pleased."

This is an angelic proclamation that was meant to be in effect from that moment on, not just a one day reprieve.

Peace among men? Where? Good will? On what planet? Is the Word of God a lie?

Or are we just misreading something?

Well, the Word is never a lie. So we must be missing something somewhere.

We are. It's mainly because the KJV did not correctly translate the verse. Fortunately virtually every other Bible translation after that got it right.

The good old KJV missed "with whom He is well pleased" (or variations to that effect).

There's your peace and good will on earth. It's there, just as the angels proclaimed. It was in the manger, it was all over Mary and Joseph. It was lavished upon the shepherd's, and even the wise men got it when they showed up (two years later).

Herod never got it. Pilate never got it. The Sanhedrin never got it. And most of the world today doesn't get it.

I have it. All the peace I could ever get under and into is all over me. I harbor no ill will toward no one. The angels proclamation is real to me, not just on Christmas, but 365/24/7.

People like us who "get it", don't struggle with vengeful thinking. We don't wring our hands over the global conflict. We don't hate.

Instead we keep alive the Spirit of Christ. The Spirit of that night, whatever time of the year it was.

So there it is.

It's "Glory to God". Can you say that? If not you will never have peace.

Is God pleased with you? If not you will never have any of it. None. Zilch. Zero. Nil. Nada. Nothing. Global conflict will rage in your heart. Don't forget, it's the little battles of the conflicted heart that expands to the global rage we see today.

The solution is in Jesus. It's all about Him. God has come to be favorable to us by giving His Son Jesus Christ.

It's all contained in Him. Embrace Jesus and peace and good will will envelope you.

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

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