A cancer diagnosis has been discovered to have a series of effects on the patient’s mental health. Fear, anxiety, sadness, guilt, anger, and other related feelings are associated with the patient. Knowing that this terminal disease will soon bring an end to the life of the patient has very detrimental effects on their relationships, career, mental health, and every other aspect of life.
Jesus came into this world knowing He was born to die for the sins of the world. The awareness of this must have given Him a significant amount of pain and trauma while He lived. Even without sin and any evidence of criminality, He died the death of criminals, hung on a Cross. But the irony is that the world celebrates His birth as it brings a memory of joy, comfort, peace, and eternal security to believers.
The Reason for the Season
As we transit into Advent, the preparation of the birth of Jesus, it is good to re-evaluate the reason for the coming of Jesus into the world and the expected response on the part of mankind. What is the “reason for the season?” From the foundation of the world, man was separated from God after a blatant disobedience to the instruction given to Adam and Eve by God in the Garden of Eden (as the serpent deceived Eve), and as a result, man fell and lost fellowship and contact with God. There was then a reason and need for reconciliation to take place between God and man, so that the heavenly and peaceful atmosphere between God and man that was lost in the Garden would be restored, and man can be saved from darkness and given life in abundance. “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
It is therefore crucial to emphasise that the birth of Jesus brings hope to the world and He is the solution to our troubled world as well as the key to eternity with God. “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). The belief in Jesus brings us into comfort, peace, joy and it also brings us into the reality of eternal security with the Father. In His words, Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). What a blessed hope; to live in fellowship with the Father, and exit this world with a transit into eternity where there is no pain, crying and struggling, etc; “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
Believe and be Saved
The gift of Jesus to mankind is the foremost evidence of God’s love for us. Even when mankind has derailed and lost in wickedness and cruelty, God sends His only beloved Son, Jesus to redeem man from the pit of darkness, wickedness, tragedy, and chaos. By the blood of Jesus that was shed on the Cross of Calvary, man’s membership into the Kingdom was ratified and fully paid for. Now to those who believe in Jesus; the crown of glory awaits them. There is life after their transitioning from the earth. The belief in the name of Jesus brings the believer into a place of peace and fellowship with God. Salvation is complete with the belief in the heart and by confession with the mouth. “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10).
As we transition into “Advent” preparing for the celebration of the birth of Jesus, it is a good season to re-evaluate our lives and see where we are and also project into the future to check our stand with our faith in Jesus. Are we still on track? Are there areas we can do better with regard to our Christian service which is the evidence of our faith and not a solution to our salvation? Christ paid for our salvation a complete price with His blood. “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13).
