Peace on Earth?

One of my favorite Christmas songs is “Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy” by David Bowie and Bing Crosby.  I have always been a fan of Bing Crosby’s rich voice.  Although I do not know many songs by David Bowie, I really like his melody on this song.  While I enjoy the music, it is the lyrics that stick in my mind. First, on the lighter side, if a drummer boy really did show up on the night of Jesus’ birth, how would Mary have reacted?  Maybe, “Hey, I just got this baby to sleep and up pops this drummer boy?”  Two guesses about where I got that joke.
The part sang by David Bowie says:
 “Peace on Earth, can it be?
Years from now perhaps we’ll see.
See the day of glory.
See the day when men of goodwill
Live in peace, live in peace again.”

So, what do think?  Will we see a day on this earth when men of goodwill live in peace? I suppose the lyrics are a reference to Luke 2:14 from the King James Version where a host of angels sing:
“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace,
good will toward men.”

Kind of sounds like a promise for world peace, but I’m not buying it.  First, there have wars throughout history.  Also, Jesus said that nation would rise up against nation.
Yet, because of Jesus, we do have peace while on this earth.  In John 14:27, Jesus told his apostles, and by extension us:
“I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart.  And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give.  So, don’t be troubled or afraid.”

Also, peace is included among the fruit of the Spirit.  Furthermore, according to Philippians 4, it is peace that is beyond our understanding and it will guard our hearts and minds as we live in Christ Jesus.

My prayer for each of us is that we will grow in Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit and that we will experience the peace that comes from that relationship in ever increasing measures.  Because of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, we do have peace on earth.  It is not a peace among all nations.  It is a peace with God and in our hearts and minds.

Giles Brown