The sky is flushed with the light of victory and peace, and before you read this, thank God, the fighting part of the War will be over. What a hearty “thank God” has risen from all the world! The earth stands aghast at the awful desolation wrought by the ambition of man. But amid these ghastly ruins, these millions of dead, a voice seems to speak to all the world― “Sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”
The scene in our picture is called “German Frightfulness in France.” As the Germans were forced to retire, they have laid in ruins many of the villages and towns of the French, and probably some places will never be rebuilt. The picture shows an Australian patrol passing through the wreckage of the Rue de Peronne in Bapaume.
Poor France, poor Belgium, we say―we might say also poor world—cursed on account of man’s sin. “On earth peace;” the angels said, and He who came to earth, “God manifest in the flesh,” was the Prince of peace. But man in his sin, made war with God and His beloved Son, and crucified the Saviour of mankind. The only peace that can remain on earth now, is the peace of God that reigns in the hearts of those whose sins have been forgiven. “There is no peace saith my God to the wicked.” “God is angry with the wicked every day.” If you would know peace on earth, you must know Christ as your Saviour.
Reader! I am going to make my last appeal to you this year. I want you to read every word of it. Are you justified by faith, and have your peace with God? Nations want peace from war—but it is your peace with God I want to speak to you about. I want you to be sure of heaven when you die.