The Christmas Truce

As Christmas approached, during the early months of the First World War, unusual events were taking place right along the front line. Soldiers on both sides of the conflict, who had been dug in against each other, were cautiously lifting their heads above the trenches. As the faces of the opposing forces stared at each other, some bolder men began climbing out and carefully making the approach towards enemy positions across the usually deadly area of No Man’s Land.

  Hands were extended in friendship and small mementoes were exchanged between the opposing forces. In at least one place, a friendly game of football was arranged between the conflicting armies. This period of peace was replicated in several places during Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 1914. It was a little season of goodwill to all men that preceded what was to become a long, bitter and costly war.

 Back in 1914, what the world desperately required was peace and not just a truce that lasted little more than forty-eight hours. Tragically, the leaders of the countries involved in the terrible conflict were unable to replicate this short truce and, as a result, millions of lives were sacrificed before peace was finally obtained.

Today, men in all parts of the globe are still seeking answers that will bring lasting peace to our troubled world. Sadly, whilst they organise peace processes, peace conferences and send peace emissaries, they neglect the real problem – sin, and refuse to ask help from the one person who was given the unique title, ‘The Prince of Peace.’1

 This incredible title, Prince of Peace, was given to God’s Son, the Lord Jesus, around 1000 years before His birth! When Christ was born in Bethlehem, the heavenly host proclaimed, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’2 This was the One who could offer real and everlasting peace to those who wanted it. Shortly before the Lord Jesus went to the cross in order to die for our sins, He said, ‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.’3 The one sacrifice that He made on the cross is the only thing that can bring lasting peace, resulting in Heaven as our eternal home because He made, ‘peace through the blood of His cross.’4

 This offer of eternal peace is still available to all who will take it. The Bible, God’s Word, states that our sin has separated us from God and will continue to do so for all eternity in Hell if we do nothing about it. However, we can know ‘peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ’,5 if we are prepared to repent (turn from) our sin and trust the Lord Jesus as our Saviour. The peace that God offers is not just a truce that lasts for forty-eight hours, but forever. Do you want the peace that God has provided through His Son? Is God able to say to you, ‘Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace’?6

 Robert Plant