I have often pondered the passage in Luke 2:8-15, where an angel of the Lord announces to the shepherds the birth of the Christ Child and a multitude of the heavenly host appear praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!" What has puzzled me is not that the angels would glorify God, but rather that they would announce peace. What sort of peace were they referring to?
    Recently, a friend of mine pointed out that the angels were referring to the peace Jesus Christ would reestablish between God and man. From the time of the Fall, mankind has been separated from God, but the heart of God, which is love for His creation, has always been to reconcile man to Himself. When Jesus Christ was born, the heavenly host celebrated as they saw prophetically what God would accomplish through the Incarnation. The birth and life of Christ was the very means by which God achieved the greatest act of love the world would ever see: the reconciliation of His creation to Himself. Through the reconciliation of man to God, we are at peace with God, but peace was attained at a great cost, after ages of war.
   If we look closely, we will see that there are two levels or fronts to the Christmas story: one of peace and the other of war, a war that began in the heavens and came to involve man in the garden of Eden.
   From the beginning of creation, God purposed to create a being who would reflect Himself. He created man and woman in His own image and was pleased with His creation. In the creation of man in His own image, God gave him the capacity to choose; He gave him a free will. This gift was of critical importance for without it man would not truly be in the image of God. Further, the gift of free will enables man to receive and to give love. This too is of critical importance for the very nature of God is love. If man were incapable of giving and receiving love, it would be impossible for him to reflect the image of God. God, who is love, who knows the capability He has given to us, has commanded us in countless Scriptures to love. In other words, we are called upon by God to make a choice in our lives; we are called upon to choose to love and to be loved.
   Unfortunately, Satan has unleashed tremendous hatred against us because of God's great love for us and the gifts He has given to us. Satan played upon man's free will in the first and most decisive attack upon mankind. In Genesis 3, the story of the fall of man, Adam and Eve tragically misuse their free will when they choose to believe Satan instead of God. Since that time the human race has suffered terribly, and the war between Satan and the angels of the Lord for the souls of men has raged.
   Often we fail to realize that the same tempter who was at work in the beginning of the human race is still active today. Satan does not want us to exercise our free will, nor does he want us to know that he and his demonic forces are trying to rob us of God's gifts. After all, when we exercise our free will by choosing to obey God, to love, and to do good, we participate in the battle against evil. Also, if we are aware of Satan's plan to harm us, we can be all the more vigilant. We know Satan is active, but God is more active. In this mechanized, electronic, scientific age, we are encouraged to believe either that God does not exist, or that if He does exist, He is simply out there somewhere and takes little if any notice of what is transpiring here on earth. As Christians, we are not immune to the influence of our culture; if we are not watchful, we can easily succumb to doubts about God's activity in our lives. The truth is, God has been active in the history of man, and He will be active in our lives forever; regardless of what the enemy tries to do, God will prevail.
   Throughout history, God has been actively drawing mankind back to Himself, forming him, preparing him to receive the gift of redemption. The birth of Christ Jesus was the beginning of the reverse of the Fall, the first step in our redemption; through it, we see the mighty hand of God at work and the tremendous love God has for us. But just as Satan was in the garden seeking to do harm, and just as he continues his efforts to devour us, he was active at the time of Christ's birth.
   In the book entitled “Wild at Heart”, John Eldredge clearly points out the spiritual war that was raging in the heavenly realm at the birth of Christ and how that war continues to rage and affect us today. At His birth, on one front there was peace, but on the other front there was war.
   On the earth on the night of Christ's birth, there was peace. As we read the Christmas accounts in Matthew and Luke and sing the hymns and carols of the season, we are drawn into the joy and wonder of the angels, the heavenly host, and the shepherds, and we feel the peace. Even though Joseph and Mary had to seek shelter in a cave used as a barn, and even though the Christ Child had to be laid in a manger (a stone feeding trough for animals) there was peace and tranquility. Despite the external circumstances that might have made the night of Jesus' birth stressful and uncomfortable for Mary and Joseph, they appear to be encompassed in a beautiful protective peace. Think of the words to the hymn Silent Night. You can feel the stillness and calm that surrounded the birth of Jesus. I believe the peace of the Christmas story is one of God's gifts to us, a gift that reveals to us the victory of God in the midst of terrible strife. God wants us to realize that when we are in Him, no matter what is transpiring about us, He is in control.
   The peace announced by the angel was real and profound, yet there is another side to the story. John Eldredge helps us to see the other front, the front on which a war was being fought. While you continue to think of the words of the hymn Silent Night, as you imagine the beauty and tranquility of that holy night, John Eldredge would also have you picture in your mind the vision revealed to the Apostle John on the island of Patmos: "Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days" (Revelation 12:1-6). In the heavens during the birth of our Lord Jesus, God was fighting to ensure the redemption of man. His angels were engaged in battle so we might experience peace. Even before Jesus was born, Satan was plotting to kill Him. The Incarnation was a tremendous blow to Satan and his forces, who continued to pursue Jesus, until through the sacrifice of His life on the cross, He won the ultimate battle and brought to completion the reconciliation of God and man. In Revelation12:7-12, we discover the war raging on, with Satan and his angels cast to the earth where they continue to display their wrath against the Body of Christ, i.e. the Church.
   I believe God would have us see the reality of the war that rages about us during this holy season and at all times in our lives; however, this scriptural revelation first and foremost points us to the tremendous love God has for us. He has demonstrated His great love for us in the battles He has fought for us and through the victory He has won for us.
   As you celebrate Christmas this year, think about God and His love for you. Think about the peace He desires to work in your life. Know there is a battle raging about you most of the time in the heavenly realms, but know too the greater reality-the enemy's time is short and the victory belongs to Jesus Christ and to those who belong to Him. The circumstances of this life, as painful or as joyful as they may be, are nothing compared to the glories that shall be revealed in the heavenly kingdom. The gift of Christmas is a foretaste of the blessings and victories we shall experience in this life and in the life to come. Always remember God's purpose for Christmas was for you and me to experience His love. Choose to receive His love, and choose to give it away. God bless you and keep you close to Himself in this holy season and throughout the coming year.