Have you ever been lost truly lost? I have been many times on "Bear Mountain" New York State at night alone in the August heat amongst the sand dunes and wadis of the Dead Sea in Israel both very frightening experiences. Thank God he was there for me and I lived to tell the tale. How our Canadian society will look in the years ahead is anybody's guess for there are many signs that as a society we have profoundly lost our way. Here are some of the signs: - The increasing fragility of relationships and of family life - 30% of regular marriages, 60% common-law unions, break up. The result is that 25% of children experience family breakdown before the age of 6 and so become vulnerable to social, educational and behavioral problems. - The rise of violence in the home. In Ontario alone between 150,000 and 200,000 school age children are exposed to violence in their homes. Male children who witness violence are 17 times as likely to have behavioral and emotional problems as those who do not. - Increasing levels of substance abuse and addiction. I don't have figures on this but increasing attendance at Alcoholic Anonymous groups and drug-abuse centers tell their own story. - Recent hearings on the subject of reasonable accommodation of minorities suggest that racism and xenophobic (fear of outsiders) attitudes are on the increase in our society. - I don't wish to labour the point but these and many other indicators point to a society that has in many ways lost its way in the world. Our society is spiritually poor even as it enjoys unprecedented affluence. I, as a Christian cannot help but link these symptoms with the general turning away from God, even as we increasingly worship at the shrines of entertainment centers and shopping-malls. It all seems very reminiscent of the situation in Noah's day - "The Lord saw how great man's wickedness had become and his heart was filled with pain" (Genesis 6.5) God is still pained by the wickedness and violence of today's society. But because of his great love for us he provided a rescue for his beloved human race just as he did in Noah's day. "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life". (John 3.16) I see little hope for our society as long as it is turned away from God but I see every hope for heaven above and a blessed life on earth for those who acknowledge their sin and their lostness and turn back to God in repentance, putting their whole faith and trust in Jesus as their personal Saviour and rescuer. (He alone paid the price for our sins on the cross and rose again that we might have eternal life). This is the good news of Christmas the birth of Jesus our Saviour and rescuer from sin and death. In fact Jesus says: 'I am the way - the way back to God from the lostness of sin'. (John 14.6) When I had lost my way on "Bear Mountain" and by the Dead Sea, you can imagine my joy and relief at finding my way again. That joy was but a shadow of the joy I discovered when I found my way back to God my Father through Jesus, my Saviour, and rescuer, who paid the price for all my sins. That joy is mine this Christmas. That joy can be yours too, as you admit your lostness and turn back to God through Jesus. I wish you that joy this Christmas. Yours in Christ's love, Tony Harvey |
The Rector's Christmas Message |
