Mortars exploded and chunks of earth flew into the sky. Rockets brightened the black sky. It was December during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 -71.  Trenches were filled with mud and muck, partially frozen by the December cold. Peace seemed so far away.  War is terrible any time of the year, but during Christmas, it seems worse.

During a lull in the battle, legend has it that an unarmed French soldier jumped up out of the trench and began to sing the song, “O Holy Night.”  He sang all three verses and then a German soldier emerged and started to sing a sacred German hymn. Fighting stopped for the next 24 hours in honor of Christmas Day.

What do you think was going through that soldier’s mind as he crept up the embankment? He most likely was young–most infantrymen are young. The legend says he was unarmed. What was he thinking? Was he scared? Perhaps crazy? We don’t know, we can only imagine. The legend says he sang all three verses of this beautiful carol.

O Holy Night!
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till he appear’d and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary soul rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

Fall on your knees
Oh hear the angel voices
Oh night divine
Oh night when Christ was born
Oh night divine
Oh night divine

One-hundred-fifty years have passed and we’re still fighting. Still in sin and error pining. 

Like those French and German soldiers so many years ago, we long for peace. For home and safety. Peace on that battlefield remained for a brief twenty-four hours. But the fighting began once again.

Christ promises us his peace. And one day–not until Christ’s Second Coming to Earth will there be real peace. In the meantime, we can have peace through our faith and relationship with Jesus Christ. John 14:27 says, Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. He reminds us that peace is not what the world will give us–there is only strife, uncertainty, pride, and discord-And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).

How about you? Are you experiencing the peace that transcends–or exceeds–beyond comprehension? He can give that peace. Then as the above passage says, will guard your hearts and minds. 

The chorus of the song tell us to fall on our knees. When was the last time you fell on your knees? During tragic news? When all hope is gone and there is no where else to turn but to God?  He deserves our praise as the God of the Universe. The lover of my soul. The giver of peace that transcends all understanding. The perfect peace that guards our hearts.

Enjoy and worship the Christ. Perhaps fall on your knees.

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