This Christmas Choose your god:
one to:
– avoid or aspire to?
– dodge or desire?
– placate or a peace-giving?
– leaves you detached or accepted?
– wandering and dispossessed or at rest and at home?

Isaiah 9 strikes a chord of contrasts:
that those who were humbled will be honored, that their darkness will be light, the yoke of slavery will be lifted to enter freedom. He has promised that struggle, warring, defeat and danger will no longer exist, but only gentleness and peace. Not all gods can do this. To be a god who can do this, he cannot be a god who can be appeased nor half-god.
He will use His strength to heal and to restore his loved ones, both human and nature.
The Lord will create a planet of holiness where all former animosities and dangers are abolished, and the ripped Creation is restored.
It is an unfamiliar peace to mankind as this absence of strife is not due to special protection or chanced favor.
When evil is finally and forever gotten rid of—and where holiness reigns in truth and knowledge of the Lord, we will know the final and fulfilled expression of God’s love.

“…there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. … in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.
You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
For the yoke of his burden,
and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
– Isaiah 9:1-9 ESV