Read Luke 2:1-20; John 3:16 .
Those four weeks of Advent invite us to reflect on four aspects of life in Jesus: Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. Today, we affirm that they all come together. The last of these is Love, and for this we can turn to the most famous Bible verse of all: John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life”.
God so loved the world that he gave Jesus. Jesus has come! And what was the purpose? So believers could have eternal life.
Eternal life! What a journey! Where are we on this journey? We’re at a small step on that journey, a brief time that we call life on Earth. What do you think about this time here?
Let’s say we’re on a trip to Canberra. We may know that it’s too far to go without a break. We need to stop. We may stop at Goulburn. A good plan! If we have a positive mind, we will see that the goal of Canberra needs a resting place, a place where we can be set right for the rest of the journey. Think of Canberra as Heaven (yes, you can laugh!). Goulburn is our life here on Earth. Will we ignore Goulburn in a rush to get to Canberra? Not if we’re wise. If we are positive-minded people, we will be thankful for Goulburn. We will use Goulburn to learn more about the journey, to talk to fellow travellers, to enjoy new things that we discover along the way. Christians are a people of Hope. Hope means we look positively at the world, because it’s God’s world, and we have faith that God has set us here to make a positive difference.
Sometimes events will surprise us. With the best plans, we may find ourselves in a strange place. We will recognise our need to depend on God. Do you recall the shepherds? When the angel came, they weren’t expecting it – it was no fun - they were “terrified” (Lk 2:9). But the angel said, “Do not be afraid.” The angel had news of great Joy that would be for all the people. Joy! One of our four Advent aspects.
And then there was a whole choir of angels, giving glory to God. What else did they say? “Peace to those on whom his favour rests!” (Lk 2:14). Peace! Another of our four Advent aspects.
Joy and Peace are hallmarks of a life that’s lived in faith, a life that springs from the Hope that we are given. Don’t live this life in an anxious rush to get somewhere else. Each place along the way is important. Heaven will not welcome someone who has been a terror on the road. Jesus came to give us Hope. With Hope, we can live in the Peace that God is in control. We can live with an underlying Joy that isn’t disturbed by day-to-day accidents. In all this, we can travel the road to eternity in confidence. For it is a way provided by God in Love. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
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