A Christmas War Cry

Advent: Week 2

The second candle of Advent represents peace, and the birth of the Prince of Peace was heralded with the benediction, “Glory to God in the highest [heaven], And on earth peace among men with whom He is well-pleased,” (Luke 2:14 AMP). But wait:

“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” —Jesus (Matthew 10:34, NIV)

The Bible’s multiple promises of peace outnumber Jesus’ single direct statement to the contrary, yet we cannot escape his promise to bring a sword.

Jesus elaborated by quoting the prophet Micah: “For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household,’” (Matthew 10:35‭-‬36 NIV). He came to turn the world on its head. He came to start a war.

But Jesus didn’t just bring a sword, Jesus is the sword—the Word made flesh who dwelt among us. The sword that divides soul and spirit. The Word that put the world at war with his kingdom. “Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God,” (James 4:4b).

This is an indictment, but it’s also an invitation to choose sides. Because he is the Price of Peace, but he does not give peace as the world does (John 14:27). Jesus is not a warmonger. But he is a pride-killing, flesh-denying warrior. This battle is between his Spirit within you and the fallen man born with you. If the Spirit wins, you get peace with God. If the flesh wins, you get peace with the world. You can’t have both.

His peace is found in faith, but a life of faith is diametrically opposed to peace with the world. You cannot live as the world does—self-pleasing, self-assured, self-sufficient—and have real peace. Something will always be missing. The angels’ blessing at Advent was exclusive: peace among men with whom He is well pleased. Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Peace among men who live by faith: those who are God-pleasing, God-assured, and God-satisfied rest peacefully though all the world crashes around them.

Will you sacrifice peace with the world for peace with God? Start living and praying in faith this Advent and the peace that transcends understanding will rule your heart and mind (Phillippians 4:7). But be advised: you enter the war within you. The Warrior King is coming to lead the charge; grab your sword.

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This post is a lightly edited version of a Note I posted to Facebook on December 6, 2016.

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