Editorials
christmas counterpoint
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great
joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a
Savior, which is Christ the Lord. . . .
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God,
and saying: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
(Luke 2:10,11,14)
This is the glory and the promise of Christmas every year – peace,
happiness, good will. It is celebrated with lights and carols, the joy of
anticipation, the smiles of love. Eternal images stir our remains: Mary and
the Baby Jesus, shepherds and wise men, a simple stable, angels on high. But
Christmas has a sober side as well – the birth of John the Baptist, the terror of
Herod, the call to repentance. But they’re all part of delivering on those “good
tidings of great joy.”
We know that the Lord was born on earth not just to give us a happy
holiday but to show us the way to the peace and happiness of heaven. The
world had turned to spiritual darkness, corrupted with ignorance, falsity and
evil. Humanity needed hope and a path to salvation.
The Lord came into the world to remove hell from angels and people, and to glorify
His Human [to make it one with God in heaven]. He brought hell under control
and opened heaven so that from then on He could be present with people on earth,
and save those who lived according to His commandments. Consequently, the Lord
could regenerate and save them, for those who are regenerated are saved. Without
the Lord’s coming no one could have been regenerated. (True Christian Religion
579)
Because of the corruption of the human race, hell had become so strong
that it upset the essential balance between heaven and hell. People were
becoming less and less free to make their own choices. This is what the Lord
coming on earth restored to us – our spiritual freedom to choose God and
heaven.
Isaiah prophesized: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a
great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a
light has shined.” (Isaiah 9:2) We all walk in darkness at times and need Jesus’
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