Mary Hotari | The Voice of Zion December 2022 --
Thinking of Christmas Peace, remembering Christmases past, brings such comfort. Who gives us this peace? It is God, He who on Christmas sent His Second Person into the world to bear our sins and atone for them.
In today’s world that is restless and fearful with raging wars and uncertainty, we turn to God’s Word for comfort and guidance. How do we endeavor on this pathway and attain the destination with the worldly winds violently blowing around us and the enemy enticing us, tempting us, seeking whom he may devour? In John 5:24, we can read the words Jesus speaks to us: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
In specifying “verily I say unto you,” Jesus emphasizes that His words are indeed the truth and that we can securely trust and take comfort in His words. He tells and instructs us that when we are hearers of His Word and believe on the Lord that sent Him, we have the promise of everlasting life and will not be condemned. One day we will pass from death to an eternal Christmas in heaven.
The pathway of a child of God is that of ever-changing scenery. We find there are blessings as well as trials and, at times, heavy burdens to carry. One day, the sun shines and the future looks bright; such are the carefree and light days. Then there can be days of raging storms and blinding winds. The destination is blurred – or unseen.
It is during these days in particular that the child of God needs to be strengthened and uplifted with God’s Word and the gospel, to wash away sins and doubts in the name and blood of Jesus. Along the journey we can be comforted with the words in Isaiah 41:10: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
As the Christmas season approaches, we can securely embrace the promises of God, knowing and wholeheartedly trusting that believing in this way, we are led and guided toward that eternal Christmas in heaven. There we will experience true heavenly peace.