Dear friends,
We live in difficult times. The year 2020 completely changed many things that we took for granted. COVID-19, rumours of a great reset, political turmoil in the biggest superpower in the world the United States of America, and riots worldwide, uprooted all our earthly foundations of security and stability that we held dear. The whole world is suddenly thrown into insecurity of what the future may hold. Sober thinking and facts do not have a place anymore. Emotions of the masses dictate the mood of the day. Even a new definition of racism emerged. It is not about race anymore. In the emotional anti-fact world of our day those that are religious, Bible-believing, pro-Biblical family values, pro-conservative values and pro-patriot to your country are labelled as rightwing and racist. Christians of all skin colours suddenly find themselves on the wrong side of the new norm. Eerily similar to the times just before the bloody French Revolution, more and more people start believing the new religion of the day. Everything of the old regime and associated with the old regime must be destroyed. Everything that we believed in and held dear for centuries and which became the foundations and building blocks for our modern society must be destroyed. History must be destroyed. Out of the ruins and ashes we will build the new Utopia of the new global world.
Some people think that we are on the edge of another and more deadlier Covid pandemic, others think that we may be at the start of a possible Civil War in the US and some even believe that we could be at the beginning of World War 3. Many believe that this could be the beginning of the end and that the mark of the beast and the revelation of the antichrist is at hand. Suddenly people who in the past sneered at Bible prophecy and labelled it as conspiracy theories are now having second thoughts and are starting to take it seriously. It seems as if the whole world is plunging headlong into darkness and destruction. But, despite all of this, Christmas 2020 becomes a beacon of light and hope to all devastated by the happenings of 2020.
Dear friends, I do not think that for our generation any Christmas in the past had so much meaning and hope than the Christmas of 2020. Amidst all the turmoil and upheaval in the world, Christmas of 2020 brings hope, hope that a Savior was born 2000 years ago that came to save the world of their sins and hope that this Savior will come again. The Christmas of 2020 reminds us that Christ is real and that He did not leave or forsake us. No matter what negativity we are facing in this current world, nothing and nobody can change the fact that all power in heaven and earth were given to our Savior. Nothing happens which is not according to His divine will and plan and nothing will change the fact that He will come again and make everything new and be with us forever.
This Christmas, more than ever, we are reminded of Jesus words “I will never leave or forsake you”.
Deut 31:8 It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
Hebrews 13:5 … for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Deuteronomy 31:6 … the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
Joshua 1:9 … the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:5 … Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.
Isaiah 41:10-13 …. Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand …. For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”
1 Peter 5:7 …. Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
Hebrews 13:5-6 … for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?
Matthew 28:20 … And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything … And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
1 Chronicles 28:20 … Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the Lord God, even my God is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you …
Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good …
Psalm 55:22 … he will sustain you…
Genesis 28:15 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go …
Hebrews 13:1 … for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”...
Deuteronomy 4:31 …He will not leave you or destroy you…
1 Kings 8:57 The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fathers. May he not leave us or forsake us,
Psalm 94:14 For the Lord will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage;
Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Micah 7:7 But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.
Psalm 73:23-26 Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand …My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Revelation 3:10 …. I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.
Micah 7:8 … when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me.
Psalm 23:1... The Lord is my shepherd …
1 Corinthians 10:13 God is faithful … he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
John 14:1-31 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me…. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 14:18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
Deuteronomy 20:1 … the Lord your God is with you….
1 Kings 6:13 And I … will not forsake my people ….”
Luke 21:28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads because your redemption is drawing near.”
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
Isaiah 41:17 When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the Lord will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Deuteronomy 20:4 For the Lord your God is he who goes with you
1 Chronicles 22:13 Be strong and courageous. Fear not; do not be dismayed.
Joshua 10:25 “Do not be afraid or dismayed; be strong and courageous.
Deuteronomy 31:23 “Be strong and courageous …. I will be with you.”
Proverbs 1:33 But whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”
Isaiah 43:1-2 “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Deuteronomy 1:29 Then I said to you, ‘Do not be in dread or afraid of them.
Isaiah 44:1-28 Thus says the Lord who made you, who formed you from the womb and will help you: Fear not ….
Psalm 91:1-16 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings, you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
Joshua 1:6 Be strong and courageous …
Jeremiah 1:8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.”
Dear friends, take courage this Christmas. If God is for us, who can be against us? Let us rejoice this Christmas, celebrating the birth of our Savior who will never forsake us and be with us for ever and ever.
May God bless you and your family this Christmas.
Gerhard, Elmané, and Children
Onseepkans Mission
