Peace on Earth

“There is no peace,” says the LORD, “for the wicked.” –Isaiah 48:22

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s brilliant poem “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” encapsulates the heartbreaking gravity of a peaceless world of human enmity when he says, “And in despair I bowed my head, "There is no peace on Earth," I said. For hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men.” Longfellow’s wife Frances had passed away the previous year, and he penned this poem in the height of the American Civil War just months after his oldest son Charles was seriously wounded at the Battle of Mine Run. Hearing the cheery bells and carols while surrounded by such human carnage and rage seemed to Longfellow a mockery.

Longfellow’s suffering gives me pause before God who says, “There is no peace for the wicked.” All human experience this side of Genesis 3 is a hopelessly peaceless existence of pain, death, and enmity, enough to cause great despair which cannot be overcome. A restlessness accompanies the human heart in slavery to sin and death. Despair, in the most profoundly ugly way, mingles with the human drive for earthly pleasure and any sense of happiness. The wicked crave and pursue such peace, but the Lord promises, “there is no peace for the wicked.”

Jeremiah’s prophecy makes mention of shepherds claiming “peace, peace,” where there is no peace (Jeremiah 6:14). Humanity pursues a false peace, seeking and searching then giving a listening ear to false shepherds offering any sense of the peace and joy we so deeply crave as if such peace and goodwill can be found in the things God hates. Yet, generation after generation of humanity caves to despair of such mocking cheerfulness in this place of sin and death like wave after wave crashing into a rocky shore.

Yet, Longfellow followed up his despair with the final stanza:

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;

The Wrong shall fail,

The Right prevail,

With peace on earth, good-will to men."

Such gracious redeeming of such worthless people in such a dark world is a wonder of wonders that our God would be so loving. Isaiah, upon being confronted by the mighty and fearful God, did not claim himself above the wicked people and wicked world around him; rather, he said, “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts” (Isaiah 6:5). You are not above the despairing futility of a hopeless pursuit of peace. You and I are not foreigners to this fallen world. You and I need rescue.

Perhaps Longfellow’s hope of God’s right prevailing was invested in a Union victory. Perhaps we can look to our governing powers and judges for some minor victories of justice. From the carnage of war to street crimes to the modern Herodian slaughter of the innocents at Planned Parenthood, true and everlasting peace is despairingly out of reach. Dear reader, such peace from God on earth and His goodwill are only reserved for those “whom He is pleased” (Luke 2:14).

To be pleased by God requires God’s perfect righteousness. As we enter Advent, we look back to the manger with wonder that God would step His holy feet upon Adam’s cursed ground of thorns only to wear those thorns as a crown in such a violent display on the cross. Our wrong of sin and the embrace of death in our dark world is defeated by the resurrected and soon appearing of the rightful King.

There is plenty to bring despair in this world. Advent reminds us we are not to find peace and joy in the world or the world’s kingdoms. We long for the King’s return to right every wrong. Beloved, your faith means no condemnation. Take comfort, o downcast soul, in your promised eternal worship of God and rejoice. For the King has conquered sin and death to bring peace on earth in His kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. Dear Christian take heart, lift your head to God’s holy mountain of hope and rejoice.

Heavenly Father, our fallen world and abiding sin gives plenty of evidence to despair. Deliver us from evil, Lord. Guide us by Your Word to be a lamp unto our feet on this dark, dangerous, and narrow path. Speak, dear Good Shepherd, that Your sheep may hear and follow as we long for You to right every wrong. Bless Your church with Your mercies of peace and joy. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Dear Gloomy Christian

 “For His anger is but for a moment, and His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” -Psalm 30:5

The Word of God is both true and lovely. We find in this single verse the full and honest truth about human grief as well as the refreshing help from heaven. Our anxieties, griefs, depressions are not hidden behind a veneer of “it’s nothing,” nor is the cure some flippant cliché. The honest darkness we experience as fallen creatures covers our thoughts and days like thick gloom, and the help of our merciful God is like a warm sun ray piercing through the clouds.

As a sinner before a holy God, I fear His anger. Yet to know the Father’s favor on Christ’s righteousness is on me for a lifetime is a great comfort, welcoming me to confess sin and repent knowing I am warmly welcomed by my forgiving God who is long-suffering with me.

With such a warm welcome like the father to the lost son, the second half of this verse is deeply refreshing for my often weary heart. “Weeping may tarry for the night,” sings the Psalmist. I must carry on, but what can I do with my anxiety, grief, sadness? The counsel may come from the seat of scoffers to simply toughen up, stop being so wimpy. Trust me, I have tried that. I have tried hiding my weeping behind a determined face to show the world that I am strong and I am fine. 

The Psalmist later writes, “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness” (Psalm30:11). Notice, the Psalmist did not turn himself into being glad. He did not simply toughen up or straighten his crown and carry on. God, by His rich mercy, turned the Psalmist’s gloom into gladness.

This, dear brother or sister, is a warm invitation from our heavenly Father. His anger for me and my sin was poured out on Christ who became a curse for me (Galatians3:13). God is not angry with me. His mercy is on my lifespan and shall follow me all of my days (Psalm 23:6). Perhaps you need to hear this, beloved: in Christ, God is not angry with you. He invites you and me with sin, anxiety, sadness, gloom, to come to Him through Christ. His Holy Spirit draws us to Him. Our Lord is full of love, forgiveness, mercy, and wisdom for the gloomy child who comes to Him.

Go to Him in faith and go now, go often. God lifts the burdens we cast upon Him, and He is both mighty enough and caring enough to lift them (I Peter 5:7). Yes, even if the Lord does not take away from the causes of our pain, like Paul’s thorn, we hear the Lord say, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Let us, like Paul, “boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (II Corinthians 12:9).

The Lord’s mercy turning my gloom to gladness has a purpose that I “may sing Your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever” (Psalm 30:12). Go to the Lord trusting His mercy for you in Christ. He takes your gloom and gives you gladness that you will not be silent in the darkness but rejoicing with thanksgiving in the light of His glorious grace.

Heavenly Father, we come to You in honesty. We are sinners. Our flesh weakly falls into gloom, covering the thoughts of our hearts with sadness. Forgive us Lord and do not be angry with Your children in Christ. Lift our burdens as we cry out to you from the darkness and gladden our hearts that we may sing of Your glorious grace! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Victorious Life

“To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” -Revelation 2:7

The successful life is not found simply in the life of seven habits or having a positive outlook on life. Such “successes” may perhaps grant some earthly rewards, but, to the Christian, life is everlasting. Therefore, success and reward must be everlasting.

I find Scripture’s description of our earthly life and success captivating. Our life here is a vapor (James 4:14), is marked with perseverance rather than mere coasting (Hebrews 10:36), and war. Christ gives everlasting life, “which is the paradise of God,” to the one who conquers or overcomes. Jesus’ words to the churches in Revelation each promise reward “to the one who conquers.” This temporary life filled with momentary afflictions is a life of war with sin. The Scripture depicts sin to be put to death with the gospel of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:13).

We trust in Christ who overcame and overcomes. Christ disarmed rulers of the kingdom of darkness at the cross and His empty tomb (Colossians 2:15). We are made new creatures in the Spirit who puts to death the works of the flesh. We are not left to our own devices to wage war with the flesh, or remaining sin. We do not simply “shape up” by willpower, but are sanctified received by faith in His power at work in us.

The victorious life of a Christian is one of repentance, His conquering of sin. We do not simply cruise control through life, but are courageously active in our enduring pursuit of Christ-likeness. Know, dear Christian, that such a godly life invites pains and griefs (II Timothy 3:12). You may enter into your heavenly reward with tears, but our Savior will personally wipe away those tears for the last time (Revelation 21:4).

Press on, Christian. Continue walking with His strength. Do not grow weary in doing good. Do not quit. The completed Kingdom is coming with Christ’s return who will complete the work of salvation He began in you (Philippians 1:6). Continue becoming aware of your sinfulness and the war to put sin in you to death. Continue proclaiming His good news to rescue sinners bound to the kingdom of darkness. You will be victorious because Christ is Victor. You will overcome because Christ has overcome.

Heavenly Father, we confess our sins before You. Grant to us forgiveness and power to repent, that power of the Conquering Christ to overcome sin. Continue Your mighty work in us, Lord. Comfort us in our pain. Sanctify us in Your truth. And may our heavenly reward of everlasting life with You press us onward to persevere faithfully by Your glorious might in us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.