Even so, come, Prince of Peace

The morning of Dec. 7, 1941 began as any other morning did in the mountain village of Baguio City. Locals made their way to the old market where vendors sold chickens, rice, vegetables and various handicrafts made by the Ifugaos. Then a few minutes after 7 a.m., the sound of Japanese planes were heard as they flew in low over the village. Their engines droned as bombs fell from the planes at the entrance to the American air base. Only a few moments after that, in a strike that was supposed to be simultaneous, Japanese planes also bombed Pearl Harbor, and the war in the Pacific had begun.

Lately I’ve been pondering what took place on Dec. 7, 1941 in relationship to our world today and what is happening in the 21st century. While everything has changed, it seems to me that nothing has really changed. Wars continue. We have merely raised the stakes in conflict.

With every conflict there are peace activists crying for the cessation of conflict – something my heart yearns for, yet I am soberly reminded that Jesus said, “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come“ (Matthew 24:6). The escalation of the conflict carries us towards that eventful day when God shall decree, “Enough!” and send His Son who will come as Prince of Peace and establish His Kingdom. My hope for peace lies in Him who said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you” (John 14:27).

Take heart in the general prophecy of Isaiah who said, “For to us a child is born…And he will be called…Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).