Peace on earth

Dear Editor,

Peace on earth, good will to men!

This has been the yearning of the human heart for many centuries. And at this time of the year we are forcefully reminded of this fact as we sing all of the Christmas carols. Last Sunday my wife and I attended the performance of, "Gloria Patra" at the United Methodist Church and this theme was wonderfully born out (everyone did a masterful job). But it begs the question, "When will there be peace on earth and good will toward men?" Since the birth, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ (2,000 years ago) there have only been 21 years in which there has not been war somewhere in the world, historians tell us. The United States of America has been the bright spot in the world and has fostered many other democratic governments all over the world. When we were in Ghana, West Africa five years ago to visit our son, his wife and our grandchildren, who were serving the Lord as Christian missionaries, they had established a democratic form of government using the U.S. Constitution as their role model (they even had an I.R.S.).

Why were all the hopes of the world pinned on one man, Jesus Christ? What was so unusual about Jesus that all of time was divided by His birth and short life here on this earth (B.C. and A.D.). May I share just a few of the reasons given in the Bible? His birth was prophesied in many passages of Old Testament scripture. Immediately after Adam and Eve sinned and plunged the whole human race into sin, God promised a redeemer in Genesis 3:15, "And I will put enmity between you (that old serpent, the Devil) and the woman, and between your offspring and her Offspring (the seed of the woman -- Jesus); He (Jesus) will bruise and tread your head underfoot, and you will lie in wait (like a rattlesnake) and bruise his heel." I have killed many rattlesnakes over the years as I traveled all over Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas, and cut off their rattles. The only way to make sure they are dead is to crush their head. Jesus will do that to Satan someday soon when HE comes back to rule and reign on the earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

The Bible says in Revelation 20:1-3, "And I saw an angel come down from Heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. (vs 2) And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, (vs 3) And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon Him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season."

Isaiah 7:14 was written 700 years before the birth of Christ. It says, "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel." This prophecy was addressed to the whole "house of David (Israel)."

It was a continuing prophecy (from one generation to the next) until it was fulfilled, and accounts for the instant assent of Mary in Luke 1:38. Luke 1:26-38 gives the annunciation by the angel to Mary. Lets read verses 31-33, (vs 31) And, behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son (not a daughter), and shall call His name Jesus. (vs 32) He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His Father David: (vs 33)

And He shall reign over the house of Jacob (Israel) forever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end."

Galatians 4:4-5 says But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law.

(vs. 5) To redeem them that were under the law (the Jews), that we (true believers who trust in Jesus Christ, alone, for our salvation) might receive the adoption of sons." Why or how was it that salvation came to the Gentiles, when Israel was Gods chosen people. The Jewish people did not properly value the specialness of their relationship they had with God, they went a whoring after other Gods and served dumb idols, they worshiped the Queen of Heaven, etc., etc.. John 1:11 says "He came unto His own, and His own received Him not." At the urging of the chief priests and the members of the Sanhedrin (the Jewish supreme court) they yelled, "Crucify Him, Crucify Him, Away with Him, we will not have this man to reign over us."

Had the Jewish people received HIM as their Messiah and King when HE rode into Jerusalem on the foal of an ass and offered Himself to them as Savior, Lord and King, the 1,000 year reign of Christ on earth would have started right then and universal peace would have begun then. But because they didn't we have John 1:12, "But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God." If you don't know Him (Jesus) as your personal Savior, this can be the best Christmas you have ever had. When does a gift become yours? When you reach out and accept it from the giver. Isn't that true? So reach out in faith and accept the greatest gift that ever was given, the gift of God's Son Jesus Christ. Ask Him to come into your life and be your Savior. The Bible says, "He that hath the Son hath life everlasting and he that hath not the Son hath not life." Do you have the Son? The Bible also tells us of another "fullness of the times of the Gentiles" in Romans 11:25c. That will mark the end of this age and the beginning of the seven year tribulation period, when God will pour one judgement after another on this wicked world. According to all the Biblical evidence that God provides us in HIS word, we are right at the door of this terrible time. However you can escape by receiving Christ as your Savior now.

Your friend,

Paul Schneider

McCook