Young children experiencing excruciating abuse & humiliation as victims of sex trafficking.
Babies have bodies destroyed by the viciousness of cancer.
Men & women squeeze the cold steel of a handgun while pointed it at themselves; intent on escaping the cruelty of this world through suicide.
Many are in bondage to addiction – drugs, alcohol, pornography – and are powerless to overcome the chains which choke life out of their souls.
Each of us has experienced the utter darkness of this world. For every moment of joy, there are numerous incidents of earth-shattering pain. We cry out for redemption but it seems to be a distant reality; we scream to God for healing but our bodies continue to decay.
The world we live in is marked by suffering, corruption, and brokenness. It has been this way since the first humans chose to willfully disobey God. Their rebellion unleashed the power of death to reign over all of creation.
It is into this wicked and sin-sick world that God became a man.
The Incarnation. Emmanuel. God with us.
Jesus.
“This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil…” – John 3:19
Today marks the first Sunday of Advent. It in this season that we return our focus to the One who really matters – Jesus Christ. He is the only One who gives hope to this world. I want to encourage you to spend intentional time over the next few weeks considering the incredible reality of the Gospel.
Jesus lived the life we could not live; died the death we deserve to die; and resurrected from the dead VICTORIOUS over the world, Satan, and our flesh.
In the midst of the hopelessness which rules in our culture, Jesus is the embodiment of Hope.
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world…” – John 16:33
Tyler Ramsbey 