I cannot imagine

December 22, 2021 (Wednesday)

 

Peace. It is God’s will, announced by the angels at the birth of Christ to the shepherds. The question we are asking ourselves grapples with what Henry Longfellow wrote, “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.”

 

Paul declared, “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.” [Ephesians 2:14 NIV] While he is immediately referring to clash between Jew and Gentile, I think there is a deeper meaning.

 

The prophet Micah dropped this, “He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.” [Micah 4:3 NIV] (see Isaiah 2:4) Here’s the thing about human nature, as long as a human (or human entity) does something, there is always someone who will reject it. Some call it politics, I call it human nature.

 

Removing humans from the equation removes the suspicion of ulterior and self-serving motives. Thus, Jesus will be able to judge between peoples and nations. I don’t know about you, but I long for the day when the machinery of war will be unnecessary. Can you imagine what could be accomplished if the nations could spend the trillion dollars on medicine or agriculture instead? Can you imagine a day when national, ethnic, and racial hostilities are eliminated?

 

Peace has an economic dividend, “Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the Lord Almighty has spoken.” [Micah 4:4 NIV] By implication, poverty will be eliminated. The image here is everyone having a vine and fig tree, suggesting land ownership and means of income. Possibly, it means the lack of needing an income.

 

Can you love a world where there is no fear? We live under all sorts of threats: viruses, terrorists, seemingly random people who go places and start shooting, national interests and military build ups, etc… I wonder what the news will cover if there is nothing to make people afraid? Social media would be for relationships and not poppycock, balderdash, and hogwash.

 

Peace on earth will be like being able to breathe freely. The point is, we cannot achieve it on our own. It cannot be imposed by military force. It cannot be generated by human desire. Peace is something only God can give us. Stay tuned, more on that next time!