Not Just Good, Great

Conditions could not have been darker when angels appeared to a few shepherds on the outskirts of Bethlehem. The shepherds must've found it nearly impossible to comprehend the bizarre message: "I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people" (Luke 2:10, NIV).

The shepherds—and everyone else in Judah—needed good news. Their country was occupied by cruel and oppressive Romans. King Herod was demonstrably deranged, evidenced by the fact that he decreed all boys aged three and under be executed. Religious leaders masked their hypocrisy with oppressive and inane religious rules. Yes, good news was just what people needed. Far from being a season of lights, singing, and festivities, most people lived just to survive. The society Jesus came to inhabit contained little to celebrate.

Based on today's headlines, it's not hard to imagine a world in which there is more darkness than light; more sadness than joy, more death than life. But just as shepherds received the news of Jesus' birth with joy and went off to see whether the angels' message was true, we have been commissioned to join the angel chorus. We can legitimately proclaim, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests" (verse 14).

As this year draws to a close, let's look for ways to make the world a little brighter for those with whom we live, work, and play. Our message isn't just good, it's great: "a savior has been born to you" (verse 11).

Stephen Chavez, Director of Church Relations

Seventh-day Adventist Kinship International

churchrelations@sdakinship.org