"THE PRINCE OF PEACE"
By Harold Stoddard

Remember when America was a place of Peace and Security? When a child could play outside after dark? When our homes were considered a safe place from the world? When our schools were safe, and the worst offense was chewing gum in class?

What Has Happened to Peaceful America? Today, reports of our soldiers being killed by violence in foreign lands has become a regular news event -- nothing special or unusual but common news. We have young folks killing each other in gang fights, over drugs, etc. etc. -- Drive-by shootings -- Divorces in almost 50% of our marriages --High officials in large corporations accused of stealing the money of investors -- children killing children, as well as teachers in our schools. The list could go on and on --in politics --business --police --churches --our courts are full and not always honest. Unrest and violence is prevalent in almost every area of our nation.

Everyone has an opinion about the cause and remedy but almost no one considers the Word of God wherein lies the absolute answer to EVERY problem we have. Isaiah plainly states in the Bible, the reason for the lack of peace in modern America -- in fact, in the entire world.

"There is no peace. saith the LORD, unto the wicked."
Isaiah 48:22; and again in Isaiah 57:21, "There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked."

The actual fact is that we have become a nation that "lieth in wickedness" (I John 5:19). The Light of the Gospel has become dim as Christians refuse to take a clear stand for Jesus Christ and His Word; multitudes of Christians have become worldly in their lives and our preachers fear to preach the clear, "Thus saith the Lord" of the Bible.

Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace, but He is not allowed in our schoolrooms today -- So we have riots, murders, etc. there.
Marriage vows are taken lightly and Jesus Christ is not honored in our homes, and marriages become a battlefield and end in divorce. The children are scattered and neglected.
Our Courts will not allow the Ten Commandments, the Only perfect law, to be posted in the Courtroom, Courthouse, or even in the Courtyard. So, since the Prince of Peace is not allowed inside, our courts become battlefields between good and evil -- and guess who wins.
We could go on and on, however it should suffice to say, There is no peace apart from the Prince of Peace.

What then IS the answer? You have seen the sign "CHRIST IS THE ANSWER" and surely it is true. If your church has drifted away as so many have, until it is nothing more than a social gathering or entertainment center for the kids (whether 5 yrs old or 75), then restore Jesus Christ to His rightful place and send forth His Word from the pulpit. Every meeting must surely be Christ-centered. Every Christian home must be centered around Christ. Every life that would be successful must of a surety be centered on Jesus Christ and His Word. Jesus Christ must be honored and His Word faithfully adhered to, for, as stated in Isaiah 9: 6, He is the Prince of Peace.
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6.

Is your heart asking, "How can I enter into this Peace?" Jesus said in John 3:7, "Ye must be born again."
God's Plan of Salvation is complete in I Corinthians 15:3,4, "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" It is totally based on your will to believe, as stated in Romans 10:9. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."

You will never have personal peace until you realize your lost condition and trust Jesus Christ for salvation. Then you can truly begin to keep Jesus Christ in His rightful place in your work, your thoughts, your recreation, your marriage, your church, etc. etc. and you can pray for your nation and its leadership from the President on down.
Jesus Christ truly is the Answer -- the Only answer --for He said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me." John 14:6