Immanuel: God with us

Emmanovel` Asdova/ Myzi Hyd

Zanazan hadova/nyr Asdova/a,ovn[en

Today is the first Sunday of the year. Happy NEW YEAR. We, Armenians, also celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We read in the book of Ecclesiastes:

“Is there anything of which one can say, "Look! This is something new"? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time.” (1:10)

So what’s new?

I looked at the front page of The Economist magazine and it read: The World in 2010.

World cup, Israeli- Palestinian issues, President Obama and his agenda, and on and on: some “new clothes” over the old ones.

The author of Ecclesiastes is right, what’s new under the sun?

This last week a 23-year-old young Nigerian man shocked the world. Thank God his attempt of bombing the airplane failed. Yet, this incident was a reminder to us of how evil our world is. Once again we find out how fragile our security is.

How can we become secure? Even if we take all the precautions, don’t you think the evil will find a new way to attack the innocent?

All these events made me go to the Word of God, and I have an answer to the question that was raised in the beginning.
Yes, there is something new in the world. Immanuel, God incarnate was born in human flesh and became like us. This news cannot be an old one. This news is reality and not just an idea. When we have an intervention from above, nothing will be the same any more. But what does it mean Immanuel, God with us?

Is this an ideology that we can contemplate on? Is this a mental exercise about the existence of God in our reality?

My answer is very simple. God became like us to enter our world and to LEAD US towards His world. Lead us where? Lead us to SALVATION.

Where does God lead us?

Answer: not necessarily to safe territories.

Jesus came to this earth. How safe was it in his time? A massacre was organized by King Herod targeting newborn children. How safe was Jesus’ life? Many times he was facing angry Pharisees or Scribes. How safe was the Roman Empire that eventually crucified Jesus?

How safe was Abraham when God led him to a new territory?

How safe were the Israelites in 40 years of wilderness?

I don’t know if you have ever been lost or not. I have been lost sometimes, especially in dense fog, and have felt very insecure. Even the new technology called GPS which led this couple driving from Oregon to Nevada, got them lost by leading them to a road which was very dangerous. Remember machines do not know which season it is.

In all difficulties God led His people.

Listen to the style of God’s leadership:

“And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night.” (Exodus 13:21)

Clouds, night, uncertainty. Yes all these are realties, and we will face them in 2010. How secure is 2010? I don’t know.

But I know in the “clouds” I have a secure Hand leading me.

We will continue in English.