Every time you sing the Christmas carol, "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," you sing the words, "Peace on earth and mercy mild." If you ever watch the news or read a newspaper, you may well be asking, "Whatever happened to peace on earth?" That's a very good question. The terrorism danger for Americans is high. One national correspondent expressed on television what a whole lot of people are feeling. He said, "I have never in my lifetime seen such a high degree of threat to our personal security." Throw in dangers that you may be facing personally, such as medical or financial dangers, and you might wonder where the peace is that Christmas is supposed to be about.
The phrase "peace on earth" wasn't invented by a greeting card company. It was part of the birth announcement of the first Christmas, delivered by angels from heaven to shepherds in the field watching over their sheep. Luke 2:13-14 from the Word of God says, "Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.'"
In today's dangerous and unpredictable world, where is that peace? It's in the hearts of those who are ready for eternity, whenever it comes. They understand why the angel said that first Christmas, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10-11). The announcement from heaven said that peace would be for those "on whom God's favor rests." The Bible makes it very clear that God's favor rests on those who's sins have been forgiven and totally erased from God's Book. No religion can do that because no amount of doing good can erase the bad in your life. It took a Savior...a rescuer.
If it could have been done without the death of the Son of God, you can be sure it would have been. Only a man could die for the sins of man, and only a man who was God could be the perfect sacrifice. He could barely find a place to be born as He came into the world He created. Many of us have kept the door of our heart closed to Him as surely as that innkeeper did centuries ago.
The peace we need most is peace with the God who made us, who we will meet when we die. Romans 5:1 says, "We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." When Jesus enters your life, the wall between you and God comes down forever and the war in your soul is over. Then there will be peace; peace that is recession-proof, divorce-proof, terror-proof, and death-proof.
You must first surrender the running of your own life because you were never supposed to and you were never made to. When you grab Jesus in total trust as your personal Rescuer from the guilt and penalty of your sin, the storm inside is replaced with His incredible peace. You will know you're ready for eternity, whenever and however it comes.
There's not a better time to begin your relationship with Jesus Christ than today. Just tell Him, "Jesus, You died for me. I'm going to live for You." At Christmastime, we are celebrating when Jesus came to earth. Today, you can be celebrating the day He came into your life - the day the peace came!