CHRISTMAS IS A SPECIAL TIME OF THE YEAR, AS WE
CONSIDER THE AWESOME GRACE OF GOD IN SENDING THE VERY
PRINCE OF PEACE FOR US.
ON THE NIGHT OF HIS BIRTH, THE ANGEL PROCLAIMED:
"PEACE ON EARTH AND GOOD WILL TO THOSE, ON WHOM HIS
FAVOR RESTS."
EVEN THOUGH WE SEE THE WORLD AROUND US DEVASTED
BY SIN, CHRISTMAS IS THE SHINING REMINDER THAT GOD
DID NOT CREATE IT THAT WAY AND THAT THE COMING OF THE
CHRIST CHILD WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE
RESTORATION OF ALL THINGS.
IN OUR OWN NATION, WE SEEM TO BE STANDING AT AN
HISTORICAL JUNCTURE, WITH POLITICAL DISCORD AND
VIOLENCE NOT SEEN SINCE THE TURBULENT DECADE OF
THE 1960S.
WHY NOW?
WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF ALL THESE CONFLICTS?
C.S. LEWIS WAS PERHAPS THE GREATEST CHRISTIAN WRITER
OF THE 20TH CENTURY.
THIS WHAT HE SAID ABOUT A SEEMINGLY CHAOTIC WORLD:
WHAT LEWIS CALLS "SABOTAGE" IS OUR OWN
STAND FOR TRUTH AGAINST THE DIVISION AND HATED
WROUGHT BY THE KING OF THIS WORLD, SATAN.
ONE SHINING EXAMPLE OF THAT TRUTH LIVED OUT
OCCURRED DURING WORLD WAR ONE AT CHRISTMASTIME ON
THE GREAT BATTLEFIELDS OF EUROPE.
FOR A FEW SHORT HOURS, BATTLE-WEARY MEN EMERGED
FROM THE TRENCHES ON BOTH SIDES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR
COMMON BOND IN THE CHRISTIAN FAITH.
THEY SANG CHRISTMAS CAROLS TOGETHER, THEY EXCHANGED
SOME MODEST GIFTS, AND EVEN PLAYED A LITTLE
SOCCER TOGETHER.
IN THE MIDST OF GREAT DIVISION, THAT IS THE
UNIFYING POWER OF CHRIST.
AS CHRISTIANS, WE HAVE THE TRUE HOPE THAT ONE DAY THE
REIGN OF CHRIST THE KING WILL EXTEND NOT ONLY TO
THE HEARTS OF THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN HIM, BUT WILL
EXTEND TO ALL THE EARTH.
AND THE WHOLE WORLD WILL BE FILLED WITH THE
KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD.
WHEN THAT HAPPENS, WE WILL TRULY SEE "PEACE ON EARTH
AND GOOD WILL TO MEN."
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