God has found us in our realm

23.DEC.10

by Pastor Dermoth Baptiste – Coordinator – Seventh-day Adventist Church

The Christmas season which precludes the beginning of another New Year is very much with us again. Many people look forward to this time to celebrate and perpetuate certain cultural, family and religious traditions. It is a time when we can look back and trace the hand of God in our historical development both as individuals and as a nation.{{more}} It is a time when we reach out to one another in expressions of good will, seek reconciliation and strengthen our relationships with God and our fellowmen. It is one of those crossroads in our existence where we can stand back, look at the diverging ways before us and make educated, calculated decisions as to the path we will embrace in the coming year.

As we reflect on the past, it is evident that God has come through for us again in unprecedented ways. Notwithstanding the challenges that we face economically, socially, spiritually and physically, the fact that we are alive today is credit to our wonderful Savior who loves unconditionally, who sustains completely and who provides superbly. Isn’t this what the story of Christmas is all about? Amidst the play and counter play of nations God is in the midst of our affairs, working out our best interest according to His sovereign will and pleasure. We don’t have to go find him in places unknown to us for He has already found us in our distraught condition.

How wonderful to know God is with us when our heart aches and our body pains. How comforting to know God is with us when our loved ones die and the grief seems unbearable. How satisfying to know God is with us even when we don’t know where the next pay check is coming from or when will be the next meal. How reassuring to know God is with us when our children are wayward, our spouses abusive and our neighbor unfriendly. How encouraging to know God is with us even when we are angry with Him and we seem to think that he has abandoned or forsaken us. God always seeks our highest good.

We are reminded that if our greatest need had been information God would have sent us an educator. If our greatest need had been technology God would have sent us a Scientist. If our greatest need had been money God would have sent us an Economist. If our greatest need had been pleasure God would have sent us an entertainer. But our greatest need was restoration so God sent us a Savior to redeem us from our sins. This is the good news amidst the many bad news that we hear today.

My prayer and wish for you is that you will find the Prince of Peace, Jesus, to be the calm for every struggle, the supply for every need, the solution for every problem, the escape for every temptation, the release for every burden, the balm for every pain, the comfort for every sorrow, the victory for every battle, the wisdom for every decision, the strength for every endeavor, the hope for every tomorrow and the song for every day. On behalf of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, may you have a Christ-filled festive season and a bright and prosperous New Year.