A question a lot of people have asked me over the years is, “If God is a good God why does he allow war, suffering, and hunger to carry on in the world?”
This question would seem to put God in the 'hot seat' and to blame the evil actions of others on his inaction to help. Most folks asking that question do not see their own need, and may never have heard that the Bible says, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
They think that just because God is absent from their lives that he is absent from the world.
A more relevant question to ask is, “If God is a holy and just God, why doesn’t he judge each person the moment they do something wrong?”
The simple answer is that God is merciful. By that standard, none of us would have grown up.
Christmas is really a celebration of God’s generosity and his mercy. The wonder is that God did not stand far away from man in his fallen condition. God became a man named Jesus of Nazareth. God lived the perfect life that not one of us could live, he died to become an atoning sacrifice for our sins and was raised to give all who believe in him the power to change and live by his strength.
This visitation, called the incarnation, was God’s way of becoming personally involved in each or our lives, if we want him.
Jesus didn’t stop there. His salvation gives all those who repent and believe the opportunity to have him living in their lives, day by day.
This is a great benefit for the world.
In the parable of the wheat and the tares we see that good and evil grow up in the world together. The good seed in that parable are the children of the kingdom, those who have received Jesus as their savior.
Many concentrate on the evil in the world, the tares, but miss that there are millions who bring good into the world.
Many of you know my wife Diddi Washington, who now, through the kindness of many in this community, is supporting 31 orphans and nine staff in Haiti. There are many in our town whose faith in Jesus brings goodness to people in acts of kindness, in their business and in their giving.
Millions of others worldwide bring much help to the poor, the needy and the developing world.
Christmas celebrates God becoming man and getting involved in each person’s life as their potential savior and friend.
Jesus came to give us abundant life by happily moving into our heart forever, if we will have him.
May you receive God’s gift of his forgiveness and presence this Christmas season.