“All is calm, all is bright...” but is it really? The world is a crazy place - pandemic, politics, people, life... the list could go on and on.
The first Christmas didn’t seem to be very calm nor bright either. Rome had invaded and taken over Israel; the nation of Israel was being oppressed by the Roman rule; a nationwide census was taking place causing all the cities to overflow with people - each person traveling to their hometown all at the same time; Israel had not heard from God for over 400 years; a paranoid puppet king was ruling over Israel creating very violent political times; life was not easy. And it was about to get a lot crazier.
But into this crazy world, Christ was born. He took on human flesh. He moved into the neighborhood. He left the peace, comfort, protection, and perfection of heaven, and came to earth as a helpless baby who would be entirely dependent on His earthly parents. Why?
This Baby who was cradled in a crude wooden manger was destined for crucifixion on a coarse wooden cross. The reason the Creator of the world entered into our craziness, was to save us. The Prince of Peace came to be our peace. And because of His redeeming work on the cross, we now can have peace with God.
Has the craziness of this world changed? Not really. In fact in some ways, it seems to have gotten a whole lot worse. But what changed? What brings us to the point of realizing "all is calm, all is bright"? The answer is not 'what' but 'who'. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we have peace with God, and find can rest and calm in Him. The same Savior who calmed the wind and waves, is the same Savior who calms my heart. He is the one who shines light in our hearts, and illumines our ways. And although the world is still a crazy place, it is because of Jesus, my soul can truly say “all is calm, all is bright.” “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die - but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:1-8
To read more from Rebekah, your can follow her on Instagram: @bekah.jules or on Facebook: @bekah.teravskis
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