Covenanter Witness Vol. 53 - Rparchives.org

up."men,"morning."LESSON HELPS FOR THE WEEK OF JANUARY 9, 1955VOLUME LIII WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1954 NUMBER 25The Message of Christmas Is Peace"Peace on earth, good will towardtheangelic song first heard over the starry hills ofBethlehem, is one day to be woven into every language and heard over all the earth. Already it is theprized possession of millions of people who in faithhave appropriated its message.With the purpose of God so clearly proclaimed, isit not strange that 2,000 years after the event, men'shearts should still fail for fear, and world peace proveas elusive as ever ?Enlightened humanity knows full well the utterfolly of fighting, that peace alone is the "nurse ofarts, plenties and joyful birth," yet plunges pell melltoward another holocaust as if driven by some irresistible power.Use of the first atomic bomb presaged a mad raceamong the nations for arms powerful enough to wipeout whole populations in a single attack. Realizingthe significance of this General MacArthur upon thesurrender of Japan said: "We have had our lastchance. If we do not devise some greater and moreequitable system, Armageddon will be at our door.The problem basically involves a spiritual recrudescence and improvement of human character ....It must be of the spirit if we are to save the flesh."And when later President Syngman Rhee, presidentof the Republic of Korea, solemnly addressed bothhouses of the Congress of the United States, heissued this grave warning: "Jet bombers lie withinten minutes of our National Assembly. But death isWashington."scarcely closer to Seoul than it is toIn the light of these conditions, only the foolishdare be indifferent. Either we must "wake up orblowBut must the world inevitably have war? Mustthe human heart forever live in a state of anxietyand fear? Not according to the inspired word ofprophecy. For peace is the message of Christmas.Peace is the gift of God's love.Peace on earth. An Old Testament prophet clearlyforesaw a daywhen men "shall beat their swordsinto plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks :nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neithershall they learn war any more."1 John, the Christianapostle of the Apocalypse, describes a new heavenand earth in which "there shall be no more death,neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be anymore pain.."2Peace in Life. Jesus was born in a manger, livedin poverty, and was buried in a borrowed tomb. YetHe enjoyed peace of soul. And He promised to shareHis peace with any trusting individual, saying: "Mypeace I give unto you: not as the world giveth[money, pleasure, false security], give I unto you.Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it beafraid."3"For it pleased the Father that in him should allfullness dwell ; And, having made peace through theblood of his cross, by him to reconcile all thingsunto himself ; by him I say whether they be things inearth, or things inheaven."4How important is such peace of mind. A famouspsychiatrist has written: "With peace in his soul aman can face the most terrifying experiences. Butwithout peace in his soul he cannot manage even assimple a task as writing a letter."Peace in Death. Men have a natural fear of death.Yet innumerable people have faced death in trustfulconfidence. F. B. Meyer, three days before his death,wrote to a friend, "I have been told that my hoursare numbered. It may be that before this reachesyou, I shall have gone into the palace. Don't troubleto write. We shall meet in theHow can such peace be found ? Read the passagesquoted from the Scriptures carefully. You will observe that true peace, whether it be on the personalor universal plane, is centered in a Person. It is inthe Christ of whom the angels sang, and named bythe prophet "the Prince of Peace."5"Therefore being justified by faith, we havepeace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,"6"And the peace that passeth all understanding, shallkeep your hearts and minds through JesusChrist."7David J. Fant, Litt.D.(1) Micah 4:3. (2) Revelation 21:4. (3) John 14:27. (4) Colossians1:19, 20. (5) Isaiah 9:6. (6) Romans 5:1, (7) Philippians 4:7.American Tract Society.