Christmas Morning

(Editorial Note:  This was written on Christmas morning.  I have just re read it and it surprised me.  I want to share things with people, which is why I am posting it here.  Please do not misunderstand me, as I am certainly no evangelist.  I just happened to be having these thoughts at the time.)


The past week has been one of the most incredible week's of my life. I was not expecting it, but in essence that it why it has been so special. This life is not our own and that is the reason it has the potential to be special – and also at times so trying, enduring and painful.

I have always believed in God. I have always known that He created the world and that He laid down the foundations for the life that we lead. The basic elements of the Bible and the rules by which we know the rights and wrongs of acceptable behaviour were learnt at a young age. I have adhered to them but without paying special attention.

Various reasons can be found to explain the passive nature of my faith. They are far too vast to go into in any great detail for the attention of this piece of writing. However, it is worth citing modern trends and contemporary society, which has such a heavy leaning towards commercialism and instant gratification. Put simply it is not fashionable to be seen as strongly religious. In fact, it can be seen as a sign of weakness, of delusion and is risible.

Do you really think that God had not foreseen this scepticism?

“All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm in the end will be saved.” –Mark 13:13

“I care very little if I am judged by you or any human court.” -1 Corinthians 4:3

Finally, I am embracing my faith and I urge anyone else to do the same. It is a somewhat futile piece of advice, as when the time is right for you to commit yourself to God and to hand your life over to him, you will have no say in the matter. Nevertheless, I urge you to keep on the lookout and to pray for that time to come because the enlightenment, the happiness and the immense strength that is gained through committing to our Lord is incomparable.

I am not a financially wealthy man. There are elements of my existence that I would wish to improve. I still have not crossed paths with the woman with whom I will be blessed to spend the rest of my life and with whom I may bear children. These things can be a burden on a man whose faith is not in order. Faith and trust in God ensure the realisation that these things are out of our hands. Our lives are at the mercy of God's will. Patience and perseverance and a commitment to doing God's deeds will be rewarded in a way that God sees fit.

Neither did I consider myself a sinner until a began to understand things better. How could my misdeeds be of any consequence when compared with a whole host of atrocities that continue to erupt around the world? In which case, why would I need to and why should I take the time and effort to confess them to God and to ask for forgiveness?

Here is why: Any sin, however small or seemingly insignificant is wrong and potentially destructive. Even the tiniest of sins opens the door to the devil. The devil does not need to be asked twice and once he is let in, he will manifest himself and breed and spread and will tempt more and more so that mankind is corrupted. God did not intend for any sin to be accepted as the norm so we have to be wary of the constant temptations that are around us, recognise them confess them and basically knock them on the head early so that they do not become uncontrollable. If we need practical examples of the disease of the devil, why do experimenters of 'soft' drugs turn to hard drugs, why do drinkers need more and more to reach a high, why does one sexual affair lead to a string of unfaithfulness?

We are God's treasured possessions. He gave his life so that we could have life. I have spent too long in the darkness, asking too many questions about my existence and the reasons behind what goes on in the world. Any questions I have can be answered by God and I should never hesitate to go to Him either through the Bible or in prayer. Some of the small things that I am focussing on at the moment are that my body is not my own. It has been entrusted to me by God and it is therefore my duty to look after it. I do not have the right to abuse it in anyway. Secondly, I need to speak to God every day and continue ask for the strength to avoid temptation, I am aware that any sin is wrong and I must recognise and confess any sins that I may fall into, no matter how small.

Furthermore, I am duty bound to recognise sins of those around me and when doing so to gently nurture them back to health, never losing sight of the fact that if I do not, I am liable to be tempted to fall victim of the same sin. I am also aware that my Faith will be constantly tested and that temptation will always be around me, especially given the ways of this world and amidst a society where certain values have been lost by so many.

“Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is; His good, pleasing and perfect will.” –Romans 12:2

Today is Christmas morning. It is now 04:24. We are celebrating the Birth of Christ. It is a wonderful time of year where families get together, friends are assembled and there is a genuine festive spirit. Thoughts and images have been streaming through my mind all night and they have prompted me to write. It is a strange feeling, whereby I do not feel frustrated by an inability to sleep, but I feel I am in some way sharing in the Celebration of Christ. I have been sleeping and I have woken up and I have put my thoughts into words that have allowed me to reflect on my relationship with God. I am with family this Christmas. We will not be attending a Church service today and yet I know the majority of the party would be inclined to do so. That in itself is strange but is a also a sign of the times. Therefore, it is even more important to realise that your relationship with God allows you to be in constant contact with Him wherever you may be.

Today will be a day of merriment and celebration. My commitment to and celebration of God will continue for eternity. Only with complete Faith, Commitment and Trust can the Truth about God be fully appreciated. The Power, the Strength and the Spirit gained through it can only truly be felt and explained through experience. In conclusion, that is the fundamental reasoning against any sceptic of religion. Once you have felt the power of God, it is inconceivable that you would question His will.