2020, the year we will all remember. From a worldwide pandemic to uncontrolled
wildfires to a historic election, it pretty much had it all. So glad the bells will soon be ringing in a bright
new year. One thing this year has given
us plenty of, is time for thinking and contemplating. I think it brought us much closer to the
people and things that really matter, forcing us to stop, look and listen in
ways we may never have done so before.
As the death toll rises and infection rate soars, we want to shake ourselves
awake up from this made-for-science-fiction movie. But it is real and there are those suffering
great loss, both personally and financially.
Many have lost loved ones and many more have been impacted by loss of
income, stress, and isolation or even perhaps of too much time together. Moms and dads were suddenly and involuntarily
drafted to become homeschool teachers. Yet they bore up through it all. My hat
is off to you all. Another watershed moment was the great awakening, as people
began to understand the injustice and inequalities present in our great nation. This is not something that will be remedied
by a single summer of marches, but it is a start, the beginning of conversations
and dialogs that can lead to constructive, real change. Yet, in all these things, it often felt as if
the truly big questions were being ignored or perhaps even silenced. I think
some were wondering where God was in all of this mess.
He was here with us, loving us unconditionally waiting
for us to surrender ourselves and our circumstances to Him. For some, He is still waiting. For others, these trying times have deepened
and strengthened their relationship with Him, giving them time to get their perspectives
in order and recognize the things that are profoundly important. When life
itself balances on a razor’s edge and we wonder “Who will die, who will
survive, and will I get it or someone close to me?” we are forced to recognize
we are not in control of our existence. We never have been, but in the pre-pandemic
bubble of busyness, we could at least run fast enough to ignore it. Perhaps now
is the time to stop running, be still, and listen for God’s voice during this
Christmas season.
When Jesus was born in
the manger more than 2000 years ago, it was for one purpose, to reconcile
humans with their Creator. “For all have
sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23, NKJV) Each and every
human being born into this world suffers from a spiritual genetic disease
called sinfulness, a condition inherited from the beginning of mankind as a
result of rebellion against God. We are all
born in need of a Savior, someone who is able to pay the penalty for our sins. Only Jesus was sinless enough to take upon Himself
the sins of the world. Justice demanded
death, but God in His mercy and grace sent His Son to lay aside His robes of
glory to come to earth as a little baby to rescue us from death, despair and
eternal separation. Those who choose to believe in Jesus by faith will be
blessed with a relationship with God now, and throughout eternity. “For by grace you are saved through faith,
and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone
should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9, NKJV)
May you embrace the good news of
salvation this Christmas season.
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