December Beacon
“For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government
will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6-7
This account must have been from a long time ago. “A five-year-old refugee was
being shown the wonders of large a toy department by his foster parents. His eyes
grew wide with wonderment, but gradually an expression of disappointment
clouded his face. He began to search up and down the aisles and under the tables
and counters. At last he burst our, ‘But where is the child?”
After an embarrassed silence, a store official ordered a Christmas crib to be found at
once and set up in a prominent place in the toy department. At this the little boy
smiled with delight. Young as he was, he had given a lesson in the real significance
of Christmas.”
That is one of those ‘sad but true’ stories. It is not just that a little child was needed
to remind adults what the true meaning is Christmas is. What is most disheartening
is to consider how that scenario is not likely to happen today! Not only do people
have little idea of what Christmas is really about, there is an increasing movement to
remove any related ideas from the public square.
Some of you know how the number 666 is spoken of in a negative manner in the
Bible. (“This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of
the beast, for it is man’s number. His number is 666.” Revelation 13:18) Another
666 you should be aware of involves another negative message. The words come on
the heels of powerful miracles and teaching from Jesus. The text concludes with,
‘From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.”
(John 6:66)
It is not only today that people have struggled to align themselves with Jesus. When
Jesus asked ‘His Twelve’ if they too wanted to leave Him, Simon Peter answered
Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68)
And yet in John 18, we can read of all three of Peter’s denials of Jesus. [A rooster
crowed after his third one.]
What do you think of the One referred to as, ‘Wonderful Counselor,’ ‘Mighty God,’
‘Everlasting Father,’ ‘Prince of Peace!’ If someone looked at you, would they see THE
CHILD in your life and through how you live? Years ago, a little one reminded
people of the need to be aligned with ‘the child.’ Maybe that is what so many people
are longing for today – to see Him. In a way, they could be saying – ‘But where is the
child?’ Will you show them? Will you help them find Him?
Pastor Mike