Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash
Our new colour coded lives start today!
For most, this means some normalcy but to others, this could mean something quite different from the classic Kiwi summer. And for you and me, what kind of Christmas season are we expecting?
The Advent of Christ occurred at "the fullness of time" as described in Gal 4:4.
4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
Galatians 4:4-5
God sent His Son to Earth according to a precise timing and plan. We were told that because of the Romans system of justice and peace, the ease of travel, the widely used Greek language and with Jewish diaspora in many lands, the conditions were ripe for Christ to come. But how is the birth of a Saviour 2000 years ago relevant to the fears of our current Covid world? With increased scoffing, immorality, confusion, conflict, and uncertainty?
A quick look into history shows that Jesus came into a world that was just as immoral and dangerous as ours, just as divisive, diseased, and confused. The Romans world was just as immoral and perverse as ours, if not more. If Jesus’ birth was timely & relevant then, it is relevant to us today.
The New Testament was written to a world utterly opposed to God-given morality and Christians have always lived out our values and ethic that clashed harshly with the world. Sadly, our dividing lines are often drawn on political or ethnic grounds, even going beyond God’s instructions. In claiming God is on our side, we became divisive, and the world see us as the main problem, let alone the solution. It has to be about, as Jesus said, “loving God and loving others”.
2021 will be remembered for the delta variant. And just as we thought we are prepared to live with this virus, we heralded the omicron variant. But no coronavirus variant can change the reality of the good tidings of great joy brought about by Jesus coming to the human world to “save His people from their sins”.
Joy to the world! Yes, to you and me. But many who came from all over the world to our nation, including the international students, are not aware of this Good News. “ .. but how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them? “- Rom 10:14
Would you invite one or several of these to your Christmas celebration this year?
Would you considered to partner with us this Christmas and beyond? If so, this traffic light Christmas could be the star that shines the brightest for these people!
Now is the time,
Allen Tie, National Director
3 Dec 2021