Advent Devotional, December 3

Isaiah 2:1-4

 

“He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate

for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
    and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword

against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore”

                                                                                     (Isaiah 2:4)

 

Christmas traditions are often made up of fanciful stories, from flying reindeer to talking snowmen, from literary works like “A Christmas Carol” to classic movies like “It’s a Wonderful Life,”  to songs of the season like “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.”  These fanciful stories are often created for children, though adults appreciate them too for bringing out their “inner child.”

 

Unfortunately, the stories of scripture are sometimes looked at in a similar way by some who see them beyond reason and common sense.  Faith is vital to embracing the truths of scripture, trusting that God is at work in the midst of the stories that fill the Bible’s pages.  Some might see the text above as example of a fanciful perspective of scripture…beating swords into plowshares; spears into pruning hooks; nations not lifting up weapons against each other; not learning war anymore.  Sounds too good to be true doesn’t it?

 

Certainly Isaiah’s vision is of a time to come, but could human beings refuse to make war against one another?  Could we refuse to learn war anymore?  How would our world be different if such refusals were embraced…beginning with you and me?  That’s a great Advent question to ponder.

 

Prayer: Prince of Peace, fill our hearts with the wonder of Christmas...peace on earth. Amen,

 

Jim Abernathy