Peace in a World on Fire: Why Christmas Still Matters
As we approach the end of 2025, the world seems to be in a constant state of chaos and angst. Political parties, though publicly at odds, often appear to be colluding toward the same dark ends behind the scenes. Natural disasters are increasing in both frequency and intensity. Wars rage, and rumors of more wars swirl. Families fracture, ethnic hatred festers, and depression and anxiety surge to record highs. Each day, roughly 172,800 people die worldwide. It’s alarming. It’s exhausting. Call it a self-fulfilling prophecy if you will, but we truly are living in “unprecedented times.”
And yet, in the midst of the storm, God’s redemptive plan continues—uninterrupted, undeterred, and wholly sovereign. He is not shaken or surprised by global unrest. He is not overwhelmed by your personal struggles. He is not pacing Heaven, wringing His hands. He is seated on His throne, ruling with unmatched authority, wisdom, and grace.
As we close out this year, we enter a season where we remember and celebrate a pivotal moment in that divine plan: the arrival of the long-promised Savior. Spoken of from the earliest pages of Scripture—conceived in eternity past, foretold by prophets, longed for by generations—God sent His Son into the world. And He came. Two thousand years ago, through the womb of a young virgin, the eternal Son of God entered human history. He was born in the lowly town of Bethlehem and given the name Jesus.
This was no quaint, sentimental nativity scene. The incarnation was a cosmic invasion—God stepping into time and space to rescue rebels like us. Though some treat it as myth or mere religious tradition, the historical evidence for Jesus is abundant and compelling. Nearly all serious scholars acknowledge His life, His crucifixion, and the explosive movement that followed. If that’s true, then we’re left to consider not just His birth, but the implications of His life, death, and resurrection—especially if what the Bible says about Him is true.
Here are four astounding claims of Scripture—each one a promise, a reality, and an invitation:
- Jesus lived the perfect life of obedience that we could not. Every one of us has fallen short of God’s perfect standard. We have lied, lusted, coveted, dishonored God and others. Jesus, however, lived without sin. He fulfilled the Law in thought, word, and deed. His righteousness wasn’t just personal—it was purposeful. He succeeded where we failed, so that His perfect life could count for ours.
- Jesus died the death that we deserved because of our sin. Sin isn’t just a personal failing—it’s a capital offense against a holy God. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), and justice demands payment. Jesus stepped into our place. On the cross, He bore the wrath we earned, offering Himself as a substitute. He took the punishment so we could go free.
- Jesus rose from the dead, conquering sin and death. The resurrection wasn’t metaphorical. It was bodily, historical, and miraculous. It vindicated Jesus’ claims, demonstrated His power, and shattered the grip of death. No other religious figure even attempts to claim this. The empty tomb is not just a historical detail—it is the cornerstone of Christian hope.
- Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit to empower us to walk in resurrection life. The Christian life is not merely about forgiven sin; it’s about new life. Jesus sends His Spirit to dwell within all who trust in Him, empowering us to live in freedom from sin’s dominion, to bear fruit, and to endure in hope until the day we see Him face to face.
To partake in these promises, Scripture calls us to do one thing: repent and believe. Turn from sin. Trust in Christ. Lay down your self-reliance and cling to the only One who can save.
This Christmas, amid the noise, the grief, and the global unrest, there is still cause for unshakable joy. Not because the world is at peace—it isn’t. Not because your life is easy—it may not be. But because God has come. He has entered our mess, not to scold us from afar, but to save us from within. The manger points to the cross, and the cross points to the empty tomb. And from that tomb, hope rises—eternal, unchanging, and available to you today.
So as you look around at the chaos of our world, don’t be overcome by fear. Look instead to the One who overcame the world. Find your comfort not in changing headlines, but in the unchanging Savior. He is Emmanuel—God with us—and that changes everything.