I Have Never Seen This On a Christmas Card

Here's a Christmas paradox for you.  I am really getting into this whole Christmas IQ test....my pastor would be happy that his Christmas trivia is challenging me to think about Christmas differently than I have in the past :)  Anyway, here's a verse for you....

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, 

praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."  

Luke 2:13-14

Here's the great paradox....the large company of the heavenly host was a vast heavenly ARMY.  And, that ARMY was proclaiming PEACE to those who believe.  The baby in the manger is the great commander of this ARMY as well as the PRINCE OF PEACE.  Those two concepts seem to be in opposition to one another.

When I think about what the ARMY of Angels said at the birth of Christ, I understand it is comforting for those who are in Christ, but...to really understand this PEACE, one has to also understand the contrast that for those who are not in Christ....there will be NO PEACE.  This sweet baby in a manger actually grew up and said, 

"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth.  I did not come to bring peace, but a sword."  Matthew 10:34

The earth is not our home...Heaven is our home....we cannot lose sight of that!  The earth is the battleground where faith is tested....there is a constant spiritual battle for our souls and this battle, though it is mostly unseen, can leave us feeling worn and battered if we do not live in the peace that is offered through finding favor with God.  C.S. Lewis has a very interesting work called The Great Divorce.  It is an allegory that addresses the subject that earth can be like heaven for those who are in Christ and like hell for those who are not.  It is not as if those who are in Christ experience any physical differences from those who are not in Christ, but the perspective of finding peace and joy in it all is much different and, for the Christian, transcends the physical troubles.

Jesus, in command of this vast ARMY.....HAS CONQUERED SIN!  No troubles we encounter on earth can touch that!....There's the PEACE!  It's not in a silent night of fluffy snow or the twinkling lights on my tree or in the flickering fire that makes my toes toasty warm....I ADORE THOSE THINGS and they feel so peaceful.  BUT, the peace comes to me because my SAVIOR was long-suffering and won the greatest battle!

Maybe it's weird to mix WAR and PEACE like this...I know you probably wouldn't see a Christmas Card with a baby offering up a battle cry.

King and Country's, Baby Boy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CxFb4J-DHg

But, in Him we are VICTORIOUS!