We live in a world of uncertainty. Adam and then Eve having just been created, perhaps were a little uncertain concerning what this garden was all about. They were blessed with God’s personal presence as He taught them. Still an evil and hurtful person entered and ruined things for them. Fortunately, God was still interested in a personal relationship and although they exited the garden He was still with them bringing new life. In the intervening years we human beings including those of faith, faced uncertainty and difficulty in a fallen world. Unreliable and sinful people, pestilence, disease, the storms of nature, a struggle for the resources for life, authoritarian and evil governments and the list goes on. Today, because of all of our technology and advances we might think we escape all that but alas, we still face the uncertainty and difficulties of life in a fallen world. Uncertainty and division in government, many wondering about jobs and finances for survival, storms and floods, a virus we cannot see. In it all, God desires personal relationship and to be with us.

This time of year, we celebrate Emmanuel, God with us. Matthew 1:23 (NASB) “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” It is a demonstration of God’s desire to be with us and it is comforting in this fallen and uncertain world. We face the difficulties of life in a fallen world realizing God is with us and desires a personal relationship with us accomplished by the death and resurrection of Jesus. As we face the uncertainties of our time let us remember some of the last words of Jesus. After promising to go prepare an eternal dwelling for us and promising to send the Holy Spirit to be with us, He said these words in John 14:27 (NASB), “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.