BITS and PIECES
A random collection of news and views compiled by Frank McClelland for the Toronto Free Presbyterian Church.
222nd Edition – December 22, 2024
A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL
May we take this opportunity to wish all of our readers a very happy Christmas season. It will be a little different this year as we have just come through a major, month-long, strike by Canada Post.
Consequently, many Christmas greetings and gifts will not arrive until well into the New Year. But no work stoppage can stop the celebration of the birth of the Lord Jesus.
In Bethlehem’s manger the Son of God was born, and because of that, we who are followers of Christ rejoice with “joy unspeakable and full of glory” [I Peter 1:8].
THE MAN SAVED ON CHRISTMAS DAY
The twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month is traditionally the time we celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus, although there is no way of proving the accuracy of the date.
However, that date was a great blessing for Jehoiachin, the king of Judah [Jeremiah 52:31] On that day life dramatically changed for him, and he is an encouraging illustration of the experience of salvation for God’s people.
Jehoiachin ascended to the throne at 18 years of age in 597BC. After ruling for three months, he was captured by king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, and spent 37 long years, day after day, in a squalid Babylonian prison. He was forced to obey the will and whim of the Babylonians.
He pictured every believer in his unsaved days, doing the will and whim of the wicked one. As captives we learned the horrors of the devil’s sinful prison.
On the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month things radically changed for Jehoiachin. He was pardoned because of the king’s mercy. After 37 years in prison he was released by Evil-Merodach who was the king of Babylon at the time. What a thrill it was when we were freed from the devil’s prison by the power of the “King of kings,” Jesus.
On that day Jehoiachin had a changed fellowship. Prisoners he knew were left behind as he moved into fellowship with the king. Likewise for every believer.
His garments were also changed. This is a true rags to riches story. He changed the rat-infested dungeon for the king’s palace. What a true picture of the story of every Christian.
Jehoiachin had a change of food. Prisons are not known for culinary delights especially in those days. Now he eats king’s food. The Christian leaves the wicked mental food for the “Living Bread” of heaven.
“If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” [II Corinthians 5:17].
THE CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
The central message of Christianity is that Jesus came to this world to bring “on earth peace, goodwill toward men” [Luke 2:14]. We wonder what has gone wrong? This world is in chaos with “wars and rumours of wars” [Matthew 24:6]. Has God failed? No!
GOD INTENDS THE WORLD TO HAVE PEACE. He is the God of peace who maintains peace in heaven, and created peace on earth in Eden’s paradise. Man was in harmony with his Creator, and there was nothing to affright him.
MAN DESTROYS PEACE ON EARTH. This is a wonderful world. Spacemen have the view of a beautiful blue jewel against the black backdrop of space. The animals on earth nor the fish of the sea cannot be blamed for the wickedness of the world. They abide by their God-given instincts.
Man is the rebel who has set himself against God’s holy law. He has placed his idols where God should rightfully be. God reminds us, “Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker” [Isaiah 45:9].
JESUS CHRIST RESTORES PEACE. Peace follows war and the battle. The greatest battle ever fought was on Calvary’s brow when Jesus defeated the devil for all time and eternity. If you have no peace today, it can come to you when you stop fighting against God. Jesus is the “Prince of Peace” [Isaiah 9:6].
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” [John 14:27].
