Advent: Peace 01

“Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Luke 2:14

"Long ago a man sought the perfect picture of peace. Not finding one that satisfied, he announced a contest to produce this masterpiece. The challenge stirred the imagination of artists everywhere, and paintings arrived from far and wide. Finally the great day of revelation arrived. The judges uncovered one peaceful scene after another, while the viewers clapped and cheered.

The tensions grew. Only two pictures remained veiled.

As a judge pulled the cover from one, a hush fell over the crowd.

A mirror-smooth lake reflected lacy, green birches under the soft blush of the evening sky. Along the grassy shore, a flock of sheep grazed undisturbed. Surely this was the winner.

The man with the vision uncovered the second painting himself, and the crowd gasped in surprise. Could this be peace?

A tumultuous waterfall cascaded down a rocky precipice; the crowd could almost feel its cold, penetrating spray. Stormy-gray clouds threatened to explode with lightning, wind and rain. In the midst of the thundering noises and bitter chill, a spindly tree clung to the rocks at the edge of the falls. One of its branches reached out in front of the torrential waters as if foolishly seeking to experience its full power.

A little bird had built a nest in the elbow of that branch. Content and undisturbed in her stormy surroundings, she rested on her eggs. With her eyes closed and her wings ready to cover her little ones, she manifested peace that transcends all earthly turmoil." 

(Berit Kjos, A Wardrobe from the King, pp. 45-46.)

Where do you look to find peace?  So often we think of escape to find peace, or we think that serenity and calm will follow the life after God's own heart.  Both seem to be contrary to the report of Peace in the New Testament as we will see over the coming days.  Peace is found in the midst of suffering, pain, and worry NOT in its absence.  Surely there are times of peace that come at the absence of difficulties, but there is a certain Christological and Pauline quality to finding peace in the midst of tumultuous times.  After all, when is it that we call out for peace the most?  It is in times of difficulty.  

The incarnation of Christ is the picture of peace that we see illustrated above.  In a world full of anxiety, sin, worry, pain, suffering, etc.  God became man.  God brought His peace to a broken world.  God came to suffer, and in the midst of His suffering He offers peace through grace.  He came because escape wasn't an option.  He came because no one else could offer the peace found in God.  In the midst of tumultuous times the angels sang, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth PEACE among those whom He is pleased."

So as we search and long for peace this season, let us not look for it in escape, but let us look in the midst of trouble to find peace in the presence of Christ.

Lord, may your peace reign in my heart and life.  Help me see the your peace through my circumstances.  And may Your salvation be the nest where I rest in your peace.

Amen