Does the world need a Saviour? Yes we do! We live in a world riddled with all sorts of worries, pains and brokenness. Listening to the news across the world each day will always give one a reason to be concerned for the fate of our world. Humanity has lost the sense of belonging and love. Causing each other pain and killing innocent people seem to be the order of the day across the world. How did we get here and how can we come out of this mess? Will things ever be better again? In this state of brokenness and with people who are unrepentant or remorseful for their actions, one can conclude that there is no hope for the future of this world.
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.” (Isaiah 12:2)
As people prepare for the celebration of Christmas, others are looking for the best ways to avoid pain and even death. Who can help us in this mess? Remember, anytime you eat and dispose of the rest, know that others are struggling to find food. As you lie on your cozy bed, know that in this harsh winter, others are sleeping outside because of homelessness. We can play the blame game and put blame on the systems and the people but this will not solve our problems. We need a Saviour! Someone to save us from this mess we have directly or indirectly brought on ourselves. Prophet Isaiah declared these prophetic words in a similar situation. The people had lost hope and things were not working as ought to be. Yet, in this state, the prophet sang a song of praise. He said, “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.” (Isaiah 12:2).
Indeed the Lord is our salvation. When Jesus, the physical incarnate of God was on earth, He made this profound statement: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10). Unlike the popular Jewish assumption of a warring Messiah, Jesus came as a saving Messiah, one who brings salvation to the people living in darkness. If Christmas is just about food, drinks, clothes, and decorations, we miss the core message of the arrival of the Messiah. Jesus is our Saviour. He is the one to redeem this broken world from the pains it is going through. Someone might ask, “why do we still experience pain even though some people believe in Jesus?” The truth is Jesus always cares for us but we do have wicked and heartless people who always plan and orchestrate evil. Since the creation of the world, salvation has always been an individual decision.
God never forces humanity to accept Him. He gives each man a chance. That's why those who will be condemned in the last days, can never blame God. They had every opportunity to accept Jesus and to live for Him during their lifetime. Yet they chose the path of evil and caused others to suffer for their refusal to accept the Saviour. In Apostle John's testimony of Jesus, he said, Jesus is the true light that gives light to everyone. Jesus was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to that which was his own (referring to Israel), but His own did not receive Him (see John 1:9-11). The rejection of His own people did not render the work of the Saviour fruitless. No way! God’s plan has always been the salvation of the world. Therefore, to all who did receive Him (irrespective of nationality, colour, race etc.), to those who believed in Jesus' name, He gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12). Salvation is for as many as open their hearts to willingly receive Him.
A truer celebration of Christmas should be based upon the understanding that we have a Saviour, God-man born in a lowly place to understand our lowliness. An incarnate deity who became man to bear the sins of man. Jesus did not remain in the Manger. His mandate took Him to the cross of pain and suffering. He died for our sins so we can be saved. Indeed, the essence of our victory lies not only in the Manger but it culminates on the cross. The Manger began our salvation journey but the cross paid the full price. We have a Saviour, and the world needs Him. The best gift you can give this Christmas is to introduce the Saviour to your unsaved family and friends. Be generous enough to share Christ!
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