Is Christmas Your Story?

As we prepare for Christmas, daily headlines remind us that we face a world of uncertainty, turbulence and conflict. Economies rise and fall, racial strife simmers in the streets and on college campuses, and refugees flee murderous Islamists in the Middle East and Africa. Darkness seems to be closing in, but Scriptures reassure us that Jesus Christ came as the light unto the world.

Satan is the author and instigator of all evil. Even those who doubt or deny God cannot deny there is an obvious force of evil present in our world. Jesus said Satan is the father of all lies and, above all, a thief and murderer. He seeks to destroy life—every precious aspect of it. When he is in control, he continually manifests despicable, unimaginable acts defying all logic. We are right to be abhorred by unspeakable acts against the innocent and the helpless, from the taking of lives in the womb all over the world, to the abduction of Catholic school students in central Nigeria, to the destruction of churches and Christians in Sudan.

Such is the case when the resistance and clear-mindedness on anyone’s part has been compromised and diminished. Many things can negatively impact our spiritual and mental condition to some degree: addiction to alcohol or drugs, damaging emotions such as bitterness or envy, emotional or physical exhaustion. It can even be the result of self-intoxication, as with Herod at the time of Christ’s birth. He ordered the murder of all little boys under two years old in Bethlehem (Matt. 2:16). Satanic? Yes. Demonic? Yes. Even so, it was Herod’s choice to act on his evil schemes. Satan so detests freedom and godliness that he seeks to destroy any deliverer or possibility of deliverance.

In the fatherless home and the dysfunctional community I grew up in, you cannot imagine the suggestions other kids made to me, along with the fiery darts Satan fired my way. I was vulnerable; but praying Christians, a pastor and his wife who cared for me the first few years of my life and committed Christian teenagers led me to the Christ whose birth we’re about to celebrate. I am convinced that the prayers of others (even before my conversion to Christ) helped prevent me from giving into violent impulses, especially when my alcoholic father threatened to take my life.

Jesus is the answer. He was my answer, and He is the sole answer for those who have been devastated by recent events. Only a great God and a loving heavenly Father can give us the ultimate comfort. We rightly celebrate the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus because He is the only way to overcome evil and the evil one. He alone can direct our steps and help us build wise, secure walls of protection.

God’s Word should be our hedge of security. He wants His Word to be written in our hearts, not just carried in our hands. He wants His Word to carry and lead us and, as Paul said, write “letters in the hearts of other men’s lives” as a result of our consistent Christian testimony.

In addition to celebrating His birth, we need to praise God for the resurrection life He offers each day! Jesus came to overcome the evil one and to give us the ability to be delivered from that despicable, damaging influence. Because Christ was born and now lives, we live. May others see Jesus living in us.

Jesus is God’s answer to man’s weakness and evil’s intention. Christmas and the rest of His story can become our story. Jesus took this broken, fatherless, and impoverished boy writing this commentary and delivered me from destruction and the intentions of the evil one. He will do the same for all who receive Him and follow Him with their whole heart.

Jesus offers strength beyond ourselves and grants us the grace and ability to share the hope, joy, and peace that only He can give in the face of the most challenging possible circumstances. Just as the shepherds and wise men followed the light of the Star of Bethlehem, we must follow the light of the forever bright and Morning Star: Jesus! He is forever the light that pierces the darkness.

James Robison is the founder and president of LIFE Outreach International. Tune in to LIFE TODAY on Tuesday to hear him and Betty Robison encourage viewers to be part of a spiritual awakening.