From: Pastor Cheryl-Ann Dublin 
District Overseer 
Church of God of Prophecy, SVG

We are living in a society that wants to defy logic and reason. Reason is best described as the motive behind a circumstance or event. Logic is analysis based on strong codes of validity.

Collins dictionary describes Reason as reaching conclusions by connecting thought.  Britannica says Reason is drawing logical inferences. 

Brittanica continues by saying Reason opposes perception, desire, feeling.  Reason gives us what we call cause, or purpose.  Reason helps us to make moral choices.  Reason helps us to guard our decisions closely.  I cannot act on just how I feel; I have to consider my purpose, my Reason, here on earth.

Revelations 4:11 declares our purpose on earth is to bring glory to God.  So our reason for being is to glorify God. Berkhof in his book Systematic Theology declares that man as a highly privileged creature, still bears some traces of the original glory. Berkhoff continues that man as a creature has lost his birthright of true holiness and original righteousness.

It is into this spoilt, broken estate that man has found himself. God gives to us what I call the  epitome of reason.  After all, an epitome is the perfect example of a particular thing.  It is the prototype; the embodiment of what the thing REALLY is, or should be.

Isaiah 9: 6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

He came to bring Reason back to this sin-cursed earth. This place that C.S.Lewis calls ‘enemy-occupied’ territory. He came an offspring of the First Cause to us.  The prototype came to lead us back to true righteousness and holiness. We cannot discount the fact that the world is living in gross darkness.  It is into this darkened world the child of hope and peace comes.  He had to embody God’s intention, while presenting as man in all his weakness, helplessness, dependency that comes from being a child. The Messiah could have been an angel sent from God, but as our High Priest there needed to be understanding and empathy with humankind.  He had to be the embodiment of humanity.

When a child is born, we hope, we pray that this child comes up to be a productive citizen.  but at the birth of this special child, angels sang about Peace on Earth.  The shepherds were told that the Saviour was born.  Luke records it as the angels saying to them, Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour.  This child was the ushering in of the new and living way. God Himself came to earth in the form of his Son, Immanuel, God with us.   Him coming as a child expresses his humanity, him coming as the Son reveals his deity.  This is the way that He can be the perfect sacrifice to redeem us from sin, and bring us back to God.

Isaih further declares some characteristics of his name.

Wonderful Counsellor – the one who is to be followed without questioning. Matthew  7:28, the people were amazed at his teachings for He spoke as one having authority. Jesus does not appear to have authority, He is the all-powerful one. For it is in Him we live, in Him we move, in Him we have our being (Acts 17:28).  Without Him we are nothing, but in Him we can do all things. 

He is the mighty God – Jesus declares in Revelations : 8 – I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. Jesus is very God. Johbn declares in chapter 1: 1 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He is Immanuel-God with us. The one who saves from the guttermost to the uttermost. Johne 3: 16 says God gave His only begotten Son.  He had to be God in order for the sacrifice to appease the father.  Everlasting Father – discusses the timelessness of his power.

Hebrews 13:8 boldly declares, Jesus Christ the same, yesterday, today and forever.

In these challenging times that the world is experiencing due to the pandemic, let us embrace the reality of Jesus’ coming; to bring us back to our purpose on earth, ie to bring glory to God.

A blessed Christmas to one and all, and I wish you a productive and fruitful 2022!