"Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end..."

"Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end..."

Isaiah 9:6-7

Isaiah has already mentioned that this child to be born will have the government on his shoulder and that He is the Prince of Peace. Here the Spirit of God inspired Isaiah to connect the two thoughts together.

Both the government under the reign of Christ as well as the peace of Christ will never end. The government will forever increase. His authority, His rule, those who are apart of His kingdom, His Sovereign reign will never, ever end. Likewise His peace will never end. It will increase in the souls of those who are His.

The connection makes sense, doesn't it? As long as Christ rules and reigns and the government He runs is ever increasing (which will be forever), then the peace He brings and offers and provides will be forever as well. As long as He is on the throne, so too will there be spiritual peace for the member of His kingdom.

Think of it: The child that was born in a manger stall over 2,000 years ago to a young virgin mother and a young father who was not the "real" father would have an ever increasing government and perfect peace that would never end. Make no mistake about it. Jesus rules on planet earth and throughout all the universe. All authority is His. Only through Him can you, I, or anyone else can have peace. As long as He reigns, His peace will be ours.

Now think of this: every human who has ever lived must bow down before Him and proclaim Him as Lord. Those who know Him as Savior and Lord will proceed to everlasting glory and joy and peace. Those who have never known Him will proceed on to everlasting torment and doom and horror.

As you consider this, I encourage you to contemplate the eternal state of your family members you will come into contact with this Christmas. Consider the eternal state of your neighbors in your neighborhood. Click on this link for the Joshua Project and read about how many people have NEVER heard the name Christ. Likewise, click on this link at the International Mission Board web-site to read about the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and how we can help make the name of Christ known around the world with our money. You can also click here at the Desiring God web-site to read of 13 ways you can bless missionaries during this holiday season without even paying for postage!

Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end. We know He rules. We know He reigns. We know that only through Him is there peace. What are you and I doing about it? Better yet, what are we doing about it this Christmas? We cannot keep this to ourselves. Let's help make as many as possible at peace with God this Christmas season!