Peace in the midst of conflict

23.DEC.09

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
BY
BISHOP SONNY E. WILLIAMS

Presiding Bishop of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the West Indies, St. Vincent and the Grenadines District

LONG AGO, a man sought the perfect picture of peace. Not finding one that satisfied, he announced a contest to produce this masterpiece. The challenge stirred the imagination of artists everywhere and painters arrived from far and wide.{{more}}

Finally, the great day of revelation arrived. The judges uncovered one peaceful scene after another, while the viewers clapped and cheered. The tension grew. Only two pictures remained veiled. As a judge pulled the cover, a hush fell over the crowd. A mirror-smooth lake reflected lacy, green birches under the soft blush of the evening sky. Along the grassy shore, a flock of sheep grazed undisturbed. Surely this was the winner.

The man with the vision uncovered the second painting himself, and the crowd gasped in surprise. Could this be peace? A tumultuous waterfall cascaded down a rocky precipice; the crowd could almost feel its cold, penetrating spray. Stormy grey clouds threatened to explode with lightening, wind and rain.

In the midst of this thundering noise and bitter chill, a spindly tree clung to the rocks at the end of the torrential waters as if foolishly seeking to experience its full power. A little bird had built a nest in the elbow of that branch, content and undisturbed in her stormy surroundings, she rested on her eggs. With her eyes closed and her wings ready to cover her little ones, she manifested peace that transcends all earthly turmoil.

This is a perfect illustration of the peace sung of by the host of angels on the first Christmas morn in Luke 2:14: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men”. Is this an elusive dream? Could we achieve lasting peace on earth?

Peace is used through the Bible to indicate a spirit of tranquility and freedom from either inner or outward disturbance. This peace is not the absence of conflict; it is the absence of inner conflict. The absence or presence of problems does not determine one’s peace of mind. Peace is determined by the absence or presence of God.

The prophet Isaiah predicted that this child that the angels sang about was “The Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6). Christ offers peace to all. Peace begins with the individual. To have peace one must settle his inner account with God. The heart, once freed by such strife will then be freed to become instruments of peace. The gospel writer describes such a one as a “Peacemaker” (Matt. 5:9).

The song of the angels point to the true source of peace: “Glory to God in the highest”. The result is peace on earth.

I want to take this opportunity, on behalf of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the West Indies, St. Vincent and the Grenadines District, to wish you all a peaceful Christmas and a prosperous 2010.