Christmas is not in tinsel and lights and outward show.  The secret lies in an inner glow.  It’s lighting a fire inside the heart.  Good will and joy a vital part.  It’s higher thought and a greater plan.  It’s glorious dream in the soul of man.”
–Wilfred A. Peterson

     “And is it true?  And is it true,
      This most tremendous tale of all,
      Seen in a stained-glass window’s hue,
      A Baby in an ox’s stall?
      The Maker of the stars and sea
      Became a Child on earth for me?”
               –Sir John Betjeman

Christmas is that wonderful time when we celebrate the 1st Advent of Jesus Christ to the earth.  It is a time of joyous wonder, and there is a thrill that should permeate the heart of the believer.  He came to earth to die, now that is a concept.  His purpose was to reconcile and redeem lost humanity to His Father.  We celebrate His death and resurrection at Easter and it is another joyous time; a time of victory.
The severe, merciless death on the Cross and then the victory in Resurrection.  Jesus conquered death, hell, and the grave.  His power was unmatched by anyone on earth or anything in the spiritual realm.  Nothing could hold Him back when He burst from the clutches of death.  Remember that sin causes death, and Jesus had all of the sins of the world upon Him, yet He came forth as a conqueror.
We are amazed at the Incarnation, the 1st Advent.  We are amazed at His death and resurrection.  Yet, so often we fail to realize that He was not only the conqueror of the grave, but He also conquered life.  Maybe it is because we struggle so much in that area.  We have our sins, and some of them seem to conquer us.  We want victory, but in despair, we often cry “what’s the use.”  We believe in the victory of Jesus, and we know there will be a final resurrection, but we bemoan this life.
Take heart!  Not only because Jesus defeated the forces of sin and evil on the Cross and at the Tomb, He was also victorious as He walked through this life.  He conquered life!  Because of that He was able to give us the promise that we too, can be conquerors, even more than conquerors.  No, not in our power, that is why we struggle and fail so much, but we must resist in the power of Christ.
Death did not faze Him; neither did life.  He walked through it fulfilling the Word of God and obeying the will of His Father.  So this Christmas, as we worship in awe of His incarnation, do not forget His ability to face life as a man and succeed not succumb. 

“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”
–1 Corinthians 15:55 (KJV)

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have LIFE, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
–John 10:10 (KJV, cap. emphasis added)

Have you ever thought that God has abandoned you?  Maybe you have made the statement, “Where is God?”  As soon as you said those words did you feel the bitterness seep in bringing more despair?  That was perhaps the thought of the nation 75 years ago on this “day of infamy.”  Where was God when those bombers flew into Pearl Harbor and thrust America into a bloody, deadly war?
It had happened before, and many before have felt the same despair.  There was a man whose wife’s clothes caught fire and she burned to death.  This challenged his faith, and then there was a terrible war dividing the very soul of America.  This man believed strongly in the power of God and prayed earnestly to end the madness of the Civil War.  Then on top of it all, his son was wounded in battle and sent home to recover, and the man’s prayers turned to rage.

          “I heard the bells on Christmas day
           Their old familiar carols play,
           And wild and sweet the words repeat
           Of peace on earth, goodwill to men.

           And in despair I bowed my head:
           ‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said,
           ‘For hate is strong and mocks the song
           Of peace on earth, goodwill to men.'”
                    –Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

There are seven stanzas to the song, therefore it is too long to note here.  It is a song of despair, of a man with a broken heart, both for his wife and son, and for his nation.  The things he loved had been wrenched away from him.  Some have called this the most personal of all carols.  It speaks of the heart of a man in despair, who has lost hope and faith in the God in whom in so strongly believed and trusted.  This would be a bleak song, but then Longfellow’s hope and faith is renewed within his spirit.  No matter what happens on earth, no matter was situation a person is in, there must come the realization that God is there with him!

          “Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
           ‘God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
           The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
           With peace on earth, goodwill to men.’

           Till ringing, singing on its way
           The world revolved from night to day–
           A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
           Of peace on earth, goodwill to men!”

No matter the issue, no matter the circumstance, no matter the challenge or difficulty that life may bring, God is still in charge.  He is not dead!  Bring Him into your life if it is in sorrow and suffering this Christmas season.  Listen, He is speaking to you.  Listen…