In the midst of wars and rumors of wars.

We can again expect as another Christmas season approaches that there will be an almost universal clamor for peace. Even while nations are locked in a malicious struggle for supremacy, and while others are feverishly preparing to enter the conflict at a moment’s notice, the prince of peace will be eulogized from many a platform and through many a loudspeaker. People will go on dreaming of a “war to end all war, and of a universal peace in which they will no longer use their aluminum for bombing planes and their steel for armament, but will “beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning-hooks.” They will tell you that peace can be acquired once for all by downing all dictatorial powers and restoring the freedom of democracy.

Be not deceived. Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes in divers places, famines, and pestilences. These are but the beginning of sorrows. The church will be persecuted and hated by all nations for Christ’s sake. The apostasy will be great, and antichrist will arise. All these things must come to pass, for the end is not yet.

And yet in the midst of all that, the angels’ song re-echoes: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace in the people of his good pleasure.”

Peace through conflict.

God has put enmity between the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman.

Already the head of the serpent lies broken and bleeding under the heel of the captain of our salvation, who entered into our conflict, bore the burden of our guilt in the anguish of his soul in a pain-racked body, broke the power of our arch-enemy, the devil, and marched triumphantly through death, hell, and the grace, to be seated on the right hand of power in the highest heavens.

I know that my Redeemer liveth.

Already the Spirit of the risen Lord has raised us out of death into life, set his throne in our hearts, giving us peace with God through the blood of the cross, and daily equipping us to the battle of faith against all the powers of death that assail us.

Oh, why do the nations rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

He shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. The Lord will hold them in derision.

The trumpet will sound, and the dead shall arise incorruptible. Death shall be swallowed up in victory in the new heavens and the new earth.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulders, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of peace.

Peace on earth, now and forever.

Peace, even in the face of warfare.

Whether you are a young man or a young woman at home, moving about in troublous times, in a world of unrest and confusion, full of doubts and fears, or whether you are a soldier in the training camp, threatened with the possibility of being called to the field of battle, that peace is your only vanguard.

Let not your heart be troubled.

Others may speak of a broken morale, may whisper of cowardly desertion, in sheer desperation may approach or even go over the brink of suicide, or sell their souls to dissipation and carcal lusts.

Be not disturbed, neither be dismayed. Peace Christ leaved with you, his peace he gives to you. A peace with God that passes all understanding, that assures us that all is well and that we may sagely commit our way into his keeping.

Faith is the victory that overcomes the world.

For unto you is born the Savior, who is Christ, the Lord. Glad tidings of great joy.

Glory to God in the highest!

Peace on earth!