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The Advent season is traditionally a time for preparing one’s mind and spirit for the celebration of Jesus’ birth. This is the first week of that process. As Christmas draws near, one can find rest in a world notoriously besieged with injustice, war, senseless violence and individual misery by committing to what really matters, determining eternal truth for oneself.
Finding the essence of truth delivers one’s mind and spirit into the realm of peace.
For the Christian believer, this truth is that the Son of God was born into this system of things to obey the Father’s will, complete His purpose of creation and to glorify Him. For a Christian, Christ’s birth represents the beginning of bringing mankind into proper relationship with the Father ending in eternal kingdom peace for those who accept Christ’s sacrifice for mankind and therein each person’s salvation.
The turbulence, destruction and human suffering so prevalent in our times is but a course of events unnecessary, but yet unavoidable, in a process for the establishment of the kingdom. Such anguish is temporal in relevance to the eternity of God’s kingdom.
What seems endless in repetition is a direct path to the ultimate peace of God. God the Father intends to rescue humanity from the chaos of mankind’s sinful intemperance.
For Christians, that hope lies in Christ.
For much of the world, including the United States, the Christmas season has become a secular tradition of benevolent goodwill. Serious preparation or reflection is minimal in the chaotic activity of everyday life. Even in this estrangement from the historical foundations of the Christian faith, society can find relief from anxiety in seeking the better angels of mankind.
Without faith, finding truth can be more difficult. Absence of ultimate purpose of creation can leave one with the conclusion that mankind is hopelessly caught in an inevitable death spiral of greed, power, self-interest and abuse. However, regardless of one’s faith, religion or perspective, goodness can be found and celebrated as a simple truth for societal remedy. And so it is in the season of Advent.
The apostle Paul advises, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God,” (Phil. 4:6).
In the midst of concerning current world circumstances, Advent is the season for each of us to find within ourselves our reason for the hope of humanity.
For, in seeking goodness, the hope of peace is sustained.
In this search, in this season, may the emphasis of determining our definition of truth be for our desire to love one another.
This is what I believe. What do you believe? {eoa}
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Marc Nuttle is an attorney based in Norman, Oklahoma, who specializes in international trade, international foreign policy and international political affairs. He is widely recognized for his expertise in forecasting political and economic trends. He represents corporations, business projects and political entities nationally and internationally. Mr. Nuttle is the founder of the New Horizon Council, a forum for the discussion of transcendent government and business principles. He is the author of “The Moment of Truth: How Our Government’s Addiction to Spending & Power Will Destroy Everything That Makes America Great.” He is also the author of the weekly commentary The Nuttle Report.