Our first reading is one that I hinted at in the prayers.  Paul writes to the Philippians when he himself was facing such hard times.  As well as encouraging them to rejoice in all kinds of trials, he also urges them to be godly in their thinking.

Philippians 4:4-9

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-- think about such things.

9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

(NIV)

And the God of peace will be with you indeed!

But what is peace ?  Is it just the absence of war and the stilling of conflict?

Surely it is more than that – a deep sense that all is well, and all will be well.  THIS is the sort of peace that Paul urges the Philippians to seek – just as he does in his circumstances, thorns in the flesh and all.

And we find this peace only as we bow the knee at the foot of the cross, and seek to receive the peace that the Lord gives to us – a peace that the world cannot give, nor even understand.  A peace that comes when all our hopes for today and eternity are built on Jesus’ blood, and his righteousness alone.

So let’s sing our songs of gladness at the assurance that knowing Jesus brings us.

Many men just like me

Leaving friends and family

Going off to fight the war

Could they know what lay in store?

Many men – just like me!

Wives and children left behind

Sacrifice to save Mankind!

Bombs and bullets do not care

Who they kill, nor when nor where

Wives and children left behind!

Would I do what they have done?

Fight for a cause I’d not begun ?

Would I dare to stand in line?

Would that bravery be mine?

Would I do what they have done?

So now ask yourself the following question:

Do we ever dare forget ?

That would be their last regret!

Then their deaths would be in vain

All the suffering! All the pain!

Do we ever dare forget?

So who were these people who made the greatest sacrifice?

Soldiers, certainly.  Wives and children, yes.  Those who were due to marry, but never could after the loss of their fiancé in war – indeed.

Ambulance men, Drs, nurses, food carriers, firemen and the women who filled so many roles in order to see the war won and peace established.

British, yes.

Allies, yes, thank God for them. 

German brothers in Christ, yes.

What?

Yes, I did say “yes”.

They too made the same sacrifice – German men left German wives and children behind in order to fight for their country too – and the price as just as high for them as it was for us.

No – I am not saying that the Germans were the victims in the war – but the point stands that God is the God of Peace – not of victory.

Jesus Christ died on the cross so that people of all nations will join together in Heaven one day and to sing his praises together.

Remember the glimpse of heaven that was witnessed one Christmas day when troops from both sides left the nonsense of the wet, death ridden trenches to share photographs and whatever Christmas cheer they could muster in no man’s land?

Remember how all the evil of human sin that led to war was momentarily stilled as goodness and mercy broke through to the sound of “silent night” – before being shattered once more by the bombs from planes above?

What is my point in all this?

It is simply this.

As we celebrate the end of the war – let us remember and give thanks for Peace above Victory, remembering that God is the God of all nations, not just victorious ones.

And as we celebrate the end of war – let us pray that we “won’t be fooled again” as we have in so many situations into believing that fighting alone will bring lasting peace.

Victory demands justice in God’s eyes.

Millions of brave men and women won the war for us – and finally peace broke out.

These people took their responsibility seriously and did what country demanded.

We now have the choice – will we remember them?

And will we remember them in a way that honours their sacrifice?  Will we live in ways that will one day bring an end to all fighting (both on the world scene and within every relationship we are part of)?

And as we take joy in the freedom that they won for us (and for all the world) will we also take joy in the One who gave his life for all?

Jesus Christ laid down his life for you and for me – giving us the power to live life in all its fullness not for a few weeks whilst the media is watching – but for eternity.