It is the time to wrap-up.
Enough has been said about 2020 and 2021 as the years of the pandemic. Our theme, “We Have Hope”, was certainly both timely and appropriate and I am delighted to announce the theme for next year being: “We Have Peace” (Philippians 4).
The word ‘PEACE’ is very common and habitually used in most languages. For most people it simply means the absence of war and conflict. The Bible also talks about peace. In the Old Testament the word for peace is Shalom and in the New Testament it is Eirene. Most commonly, the word ‘peace’ in the Bible is used to describe something which is ‘complete’ or ‘whole’. Among other things, it was used if there were no missing bricks and no holes in a city or temple wall. When a brick is missing from a wall, its structure is fragile, not whole, until the brick is replaced, and the wall repaired. Therefore, when applied to humans, it makes sense that peace is more than to stop fighting. Rather, it is a complete restoration of relationships to the point where people can work together for each other’s benefit. As we know from the Old Testament, human kings generally failed to establish this shalom in their kingdoms. Therefore, the prophet Isaiah looked forward to a better future King, a Prince of Shalom (Isaiah 9:6). Isaiah prophesied the coming of a child with four names! One of those names is: Prince of Peace. This Prince would introduce a reign of shalom with no end, an ever-expanding kingdom where there will be healing of brokenness and restoration of relationships.
As some of us watch the world news headlines each day, we receive confirmation that, the same as in biblical times, our world still does not know settled peace. Peace remains, however, one of the most talked about and greatest desires of all people. John Lennon famously sang, “Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.” A desire for peace among the nations is evenly matched by a desire to live at peace with each other and to have peace within ourselves. We crave peace, while strife and disharmony are undeniably part of the fabric of our lives. Not a comforting observation, but unfortunately true. And most of us have discovered that our frustrations and lack of peace are not resolved by a trip to Westfield, a job change, a Masters degree and even the Olympic games. While recently listening to a sermon by theologian Alister Begg, he stated that there are essentially only two reactions to this human predicament, which can be summarised by The Beatles and John Lennon song titles. The first one says, “We can work it out!”, and the second, “Help! I need somebody. Help, not just anybody!” Reaction number two is typically what kicks in when reaction one does indeed not work out! It’s only when we realise we need help from not just anybody, that the search for a Prince of Peace may start.
But how do we know this prince and how will meeting him lead to an experience of peace? Well, we know that peace left the garden when Adam sinned (and with him the entire human race and creation itself). Humanity’s relationship with the Creator was broken. But God had a plan. Fast forward nearly 800 years from Isaiah’s “Prince of Peace” prophecy to the New Testament, and the birth of Jesus is announced. Jesus came to us to accomplish what needed to happen when He ultimately died on a cross for our sin and rose from the dead – restoration, reconciliation, forgiveness, transformation. Jesus is our Eirene. The only way you will ever know peace and to establish peace in your heart, is to accept and believe in Him. And the next step? As part of the more than 2 billion people who claim to have found this peace, we are called to create more peace by sharing the message and being instruments of peace. We really have no excuse not to do this. This is what Christmas is all about.
May you and your families all have a peaceful Christmas!
I’m praying for a safe return of all our students and staff in the new year and until then, may you know God’s grace and peace.