The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.” – Psalm 92:14.
His brilliant eyes sharp with intelligence and years of life experience suddenly become striking in a different way. For a brief moment – even though his gaze is firmly fixed into his pastor’s eyes – those eyes of his drift away through time and space to the horrors of the battlefield of World War II. So many colleagues, friends, brothers in arms, men with whom he stood shoulder to shoulder with, dead. Their blood was mixed with the sand on the shores of Normandy’s beach. Their lives were suddenly taken when all he sustained was a few scratches and dirt and dust blown up into his face. There is a chill in his voice as he recalls the thunderous sounds of war even on the days and nights surrounding Christmas. Peace on earth and good will toward men is something that is at times difficult for this aged believer to grasp when he has seen so closely the horrible atrocities of war.
But those eyes, which have seen so much of a sinful world, look with faith upon a Savior in Jesus Christ who grants peace and joy even to those who have seen so much strife and pain and sorrow. Those eyes, pained by the things that he has seen, are filled with blessed contentment as he considers the unseen: the joys of heaven and the face of his Savior waiting for him. Peace on earth given through the word of Christ, God’s gracious favor and good will seen in the sacraments, shine forth in the darkness as God’s precious means of grace and produce a living hope that emanates like rays of brilliant light through this man whose faith shines as the very light of Christ.
The man stares into his pastor’s eyes once again, this time as he lays in his hospital bed. He has been sustained by his gracious God through yet another close call. His health and well being are still uncertain and yet all is calm, all is bright – he is even laughing – for he is at peace. He knows his eternity is secure. He is thankful for his faithful God who has taken care of him through all these years and most of all has given his Son Jesus to bring the light of salvation to this dark world. He is grateful for the God who justifies him freely by his grace. He is saved by faith in Jesus and is assured of these truths through the pages of Scripture, through the message shared by his pastor. There is peace is his heart, in his eyes, and on his face for there is peace for all those who believe in Jesus.
I am so thankful that I have come to know this man and for the blessed encouragement that I have received through his example of faith. Maybe you know someone like the man I described. Within the next few months we will commemorate Veterans Day, we will pause to give thanks, and finally we will rejoice in the peace and light of Christmas. In these months and weeks that lead up to a Christmas tree adorned with light let us take time to give thanks to God for all that he has done for us, including God’s gift of fellow believers who in faith stand like mighty trees adorned with the light of Christ and the blessed fruits of faith.