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In 1863 the American Civil War was raging. The states were divided, and families were torn apart. That summer The Battle of Gettysburg devastated the country with more than 50,000 estimated casualties. No one knew what the outcome would be. In December of that year, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, American poet and educator, learned his oldest son was severely wounded in battle. Having lost his beloved wife 2 years earlier in a tragic accident, he was overcome with grief.
On Christmas day he listened as the church bells chimed songs of peace and hope, but Longfellow’s mind was on war and all the injustice in the world. He sat down and wrote the poem Christmas Bells which would later be used to pen the carol, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day. The poem begins with the church bell’s message of peace and good will. However, verse six brings us to the lowest point of the poem.
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!”
“There is no peace on earth.” Since the time of Henry Longfellow many others have thought the same. Instead of peace we are faced with hate, war, grief, sickness, tragedy, and death. Our hearts long for true peace and we are left questioning if it’s even possible in this world we live in. However, the Bible gives us hope.
Isaiah prophesied that a child would be born of a virgin and called The Prince of Peace. At His birth, the sky was filled with a multitude of heavenly hosts praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men,” Luke 2:14. Throughout Jesus’ ministry he healed and spoke peace to those who believed. Jesus calmed the storm on the sea, rebuking the wind saying, “Peace, be still,” Mark 4:39. He said to His disciples, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you,” John 14:27.
The Scriptures also say, “There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked,” Isaiah 48:22. Most people proclaim their own goodness and very few admit to having wicked hearts, but this is not the depiction of mankind we see in God’s Word. Have you ever told one lie, looked with lust, used God’s name in vain, or took something that doesn’t belong to you? If so, you’ve broke 4 of God’s Commandments and admit to being a lying, thieving, blaspheming, adulterer at heart. The reason the wicked have no peace is because sin separates the wicked from a Holy God.
Don’t despair. There is hope, and true peace is possible because of the glorious gospel! The good news is that God, the just Judge of the universe, is rich in mercy. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. Jesus Christ was given to the world to suffer and die on the cross and take the punishment for our sin. He then rose from the dead—showing the penalty of sin fully paid. God commands mankind to repent and put their faith in Christ alone for salvation. Cry out to God, confess, and forsake your sins. Trust in what Jesus did for salvation and God will give you true peace and eternal life in Christ Jesus.
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: “God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail, With peace on earth, good-will to men!”
Copyright © 2023 by Kimberly Williams @ www.kimberlywilliams.org No part of this article may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from Lifeword.org.