Calvin Synod Herald, 1978 (78. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1978-11-01 / 11-12. szám

REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA

3

CHRISTMAS

What a blessed time Christmas is and what better time to turn to the Messiah. Today more than ever, we wait for the Savior.

Mankind, however, because of their sins deserve to be put on trial, because of their wandering deserve a guide, because of their unruliness deserve a King and because of their mortality deserve a Savior. This is the reason God appears in His Son, Jesus Christ as a judge, a guide, a King and as a Savior.

The Judge. How many sins have been committed since our first parents Adam and Eve? In Noah’s time, God flooded the earth but spared Noah and his family who tried to live a good life. But since then, how many are the sins? At Christmas time, God sends us His Son as a righteous judge. In our prayers, we say: “He shall come to judge the quick and the dead...”

The Guide. The wandering and willingly lost mankind received guides: Moses, Joshua, St. Augustine, Luther, Calvin, The Church and still there are many who do not follow. How many people know of Christ and His Church and still are afar! At Christmas, God gave His Son as a Guide and He is the Way, the Truth and the Life... Follow me — He says as He calls us.

The King. Even our first parents knew that someone gives orders, and we know that we are under authority. The child has to obey his parents, the pupils the teacher, the servant the master, the soldier the officer, the country the president, and a small country the strong neighbor. At Christmas, God sends His Son who gives order to sin and death. He offers His life in ransom for His faithful followers. He gives His orders out of love and we should obey Him in love... His Kingdom shall have no end.

Savior. In our everyday human life, we depend on each other, and we should help each other. Parents help their children, the physician helps the sick, and the strong help the weak. But we live in the mortal effect of our sins. We may look for help, but who can help us? There is no medicine for death. But we say, there is. At Christmas, God gives us a Savior in His Son. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” Job 3:16

Believe in Him and in Him you will find a merciful judge, a devoted guide, a loving King and a precious Savior ...

Perhaps it would be a good time now to enumerate all the things that Christ has done for you over the years, now before it is too late. A most blessed Christmas to all.

Dr. Francis Vitéz

A BRIGHT STAR

I was sitting by a window,

At the end of a busy day;

As I looked into the distance A bright star began to sway.

Perhaps, it was my rocking chair,

Or maybe I was dreaming;

That lovely star so tenderly,

A light at me was beaming.

If beckoned me and I followed,

On a road called yesteryear;

The path was dark and rugged,

Yet I went without a fear.

It was two thousand years ago,

A bright star glowed down to earth;

It lead the way to Bethlehem,

To announce the Savior's birth.

Love, joy and peace fill hearts of men, Regardless where they are;

Of those who know the meaning of That Brilliant Christmas Star.

Margaret Fekete Csóványos