Lush vegetation, flowers that you just do not see on the "mainland", sand beaches covered with winter bodies quickly turning red in the sun- ok I admit that is not the prettiest site especially if it was me out on the beach! That scene would give kids nightmares for years! Those sand beaches are I am sure though something beautiful to see with a volcano backdrop.
A paradise that one day was shattered by the sounds 70 years ago today. There was the roar of airplane engines, machine gun fire and bomb blasts. The beauty of a blue sky was replaced by billows of black smoke rising up into the air. The magnificent songs of tropical birds were replaced with the screams of men and women crying out in pain and agony. A clear blue ocean was clouded with blood, oil, diesel fuel and and the dead.
A garden of Eden trammeled by man sinful actions. Today we remember what happened 70 years ago and the resulting war that engulfed the world, stilled the breath of many, and causes eyes to fill with tears and anger.
That Christmas in Hawaii after the attacks on December 7th was not the joyous celebration in that paradise that was normal in years past. But that Christmas was not unlike every Christmas that has been celebrated somewhere in the world since sin entered the world and Jesus was born to take that sin upon himself. Yes, we pray for peace and good will toward men and women but the reality is Christmas is not peaceful everywhere. There are car accidents, house fires, murders, wars, suicides and a host of other problems that plague Christmas day just as the plague another day of the year.
Jesus was born into a world not quiet and peaceful as we like to picture it but was born into the world where there were accidents, fires, murders, wars, suicides and a host of other problems that plagued that day and everyday of the year.
That is why He came into the world. There was no running from the problems of the world because there is no place to run too. Sin was and is everywhere. The Apostle Paul tells us in the book of Romans the whole of creation groans under the weight of man's sin. There is no garden of Eden. There never will be until the return of Jesus. Jesus came into the world to do what needed to be done which was to bring salvation to those who believe in Him in the midst of their pain and suffering. That is what Advent is all about and why we have this season in the church year. Advent is looking back to celebrate the birth of our Savior and it is also looking forward to His return.
When your "paradise" seems shatter and broken, do not forget to look to Jesus and know that Jesus came for YOU! You will one day see Him with your own eyes! That will be a day when He dries your tears and heals your heart. That will be a day when as Jesus said to the thief on the cross- "Today you will be with me in paradise!" Thanks Jesus!! What a wonderful thing to look forward too!
Awesome post Andy. Very poignant reminder that out of chaos and anarchy can come wonderful things. We saw this in Pearl Harbor whereby people dropped everything and did what was necessary to help. We saw that after 9/11 when people all over lined up at blood banks to help the potential victims and others spent days and weeks on site at the World Trade Center to look for survivors and those lost.
ReplyDeleteWe saw that in the form of shepherds at Jesus birth, coming and seeing the child.
Out of chaos, we were saved.