peace
17 - 12/24 /19:04
“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.”
—Leo Tolstoy
Tolstoy offered this explanation for the lack of peace on earth. The cultural assumption is that peace requires conditions like absence of war or material abundance. The Russian novelist disagreed.
In War & Peace, Tolstoy’s characters bicker and backstab over the slights and insults. When war comes to Russia, some let go their pettiness, embrace spiritual transcendence and experience peace in the middle of Napoleon’s violent invasion.
Shalom is the Old Testament term translated into English as, peace. The American Heritage dictionary defines peace as the absence of war, an agreement that ends hostilities.
That fails to catch the meaning of the Hebrew word. Shalom means completeness, soundness, well-being. According to the Bible, due to the infectious chaos that is sin, Shalom is available exclusively as a gift from God.
In the Gospel of Luke an angel announced Christ’s birth; his announcement included a prescription for peace. “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.”
According to the angel, to enter peace we must accept our need of a Savior.
Our culture rejects salvation—that it is either necessary or possible. Technologists offer to improve humanity via advancements like artificial intelligence, CRISPR gene-editing, and transhumanism. But salvation is not possible.
Jesus disagreed, personally claiming that those who believe on Him will never die, saying that He was sent into the world to save us from perishing.
According to the angel, to enter peace we much acknowledge Jesus as Messiah—Christ; that is, God’s agent to fulfill the heavenly plan for earth and humanity.
Our culture rejects both the idea of a divine being or a divine agent working some cosmic plan. We are assured we exist by random accident. Humans can rely only on themselves, and only for a few decades. Then, poof!
According to the angel, to enter peace Jesus must be proclaimed as Lord—the rightful King of the world.
Our culture proclaims humanism, a philosophy focused upon human values and capacities; an intellectual movement that emphasizes human potential as the only path to excellence. Democracy leaves no room for a Lord or King.
An angel offered a three step prescription for peace on earth. Humble yourself and accept that you need a Savior. Intellectually accept that God sent His divine agent into the world to accomplish His purpose. Proclaim that Jesus is Lord, the rightful and coming King of the world.
To have peace, do these three things. ~
Merry Christmas
Dan Nygaard