Christmas Meditation
So often we tenderly nourish our small selfishness and sins, hug to our bosoms the dead hopes and heartaches of yesterday and the still unborn cares of tomorrow. This is the season when we need a fresh view of how we can have real inner peace and . . . GOOD CHEER
B y E. Frederick Mertens
overcome the world” (John 16:33). Good cheer! Good cheer! “Good tidings of great joy . . . for unto you is born a Saviour. , . Christ the Lord.” Little wonder that Heaven’s borders bent and spilled over an angel host in rapturous song; that radiant spir its winnowed the midnight silence and black night burst into blinding glory with celestial praises. Had the skies remained still, the very stones beneath the w ondering shepherd’s feet would have cried aloud for the unspeakable joy and marvel of it all! And yet the foolish and slow of heart to believe soon forget the splen dor of that sight and ever turn their eyes to the engulfing gloom. We ten derly nourish Our small selfishness and sins, hug to our bosoms the dead hopes and heartaches of yesterday and the still unborn cares of tomor row and cherish our feeble helpless ness. Oh, for the simple faith of a shepherd to whom God can speak and unveil His majesty. Oh, for a willing heart that says, “ Let us now go and see . . . which the Lord hath made known unto us.” Oh, for feet that hasten to obey His word, for eyes that behold the King in His beauty and hearts that eagerly enthrone Him. Good cheer! Good cheer! We who live upon the threshold of His glad return cradle in our hearts a Saviour and King—Lord of all creation, Lord of all time and space, Lord of our little lives. Here and now He reigns triumphant and supreme throughout the whole realm of our being. The
nd there were in the same country shepherds ab id ing in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them . . . 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 bom this day . . . a Saviour, 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 high est, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:8-14). On that first Christmas long ago an angel said “ Fear not” and a mul titude of the heavenly host pro claimed “ Peace” . Down through the centuries these words have echoed joyously in the hearts ofxthose who have dared to believe! In this year of 1953, we, too, can find glorious reality in the precious possession of an abiding peace—not a state of mind or a philosophy of life, but a Person! “And his name shall be called Won derful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6). While a troubled world about us trembles in dread of unknown terrors of the approaching night, we of the upward look gaze steadfastly into His face and know the strong sure com fort of His Words, “ in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribula tion: but be of good cheer; I have
alarms of life, the unrest and dark ness of this age are powerless to pierce the armor of His peace. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Isa. 26:3). Philos ophy, religion, science of mind and soul all strive in endless quest for the answer, but none but the Prince of Peace can say: “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me . . . Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:- 1,27). Yes, peace is a person, and to know and possess Him in all the recesses of our lives is to be garrisoned with deep ineffable peace of mind and heart, regardless of fears that would beset us without and within. “Ye [who] were without Christ . . . hav ing no hope, and without God in the world . . . now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace” (Eph. 2:12-14). Good cheer! Good cheer! “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord” (2 Pet. 1:2). “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:7). The only real peace is that which comes through Christ. “ Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace” (Job. 22:21). END.
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