He Came To Give Us Life
He Came To Give Us Life
“The thief comes only to steal, to kill and to destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” John 10:10 NIV
I live in Sierra Leone, a small West African country that is only recently emerging from a decade long civil war. Ours was a devastating struggle, one that found brothers killing brothers and neighbors attacking childhood friends.
Such violence is always unconscionably ugly. But it is especially bad during Advent. And during the last six years of the conflict the rebels consistently made their most daring and brutal attacks during December. In fact, the days leading up to Christmas were often the time of fiercest fighting. We came to expect it.
Because of this, days leading up to December 25th – a time that is supposed to celebrate the birth of hope – have dark connotations. Instead of remembering festive gatherings, my friends are haunted by savage images: families ripped apart, the massive destruction of life and the most unspeakable acts of brutality. What many consider a time of peace on earth and good will toward men is viewed in my country as an anniversary of death and fear.
Even now, seven years after the fighting stopped, you can still see the pain in people’s eyes. Faces of anguish, depression, and hopelessness are common on the streets of Sierra Leone.
How do you celebrate the good news of Christ’s birth in a setting such as this? How do you minister when surrounded by such pain? How do you not?
As a Christian I understand the source of evil that pulls my country into despair. I also understand its cure – Jesus Christ.
Beyond that I am assured that the Son of God understands our plight. He was not born into affluence, but need; not into safety, but danger. He was not embraced, but challenged. The politics of His day were unstable. His people were oppressed.
Jesus understands Sierra Leone because He walked among fallen people in a fallen land. And against all the hurt people face, He, and He alone, offers love, joy, peace, hope and life – abundant life.
At Christmas, new life enters a dead world. Temporal security is replaced by eternal security. False hopes are replaced by real hope. Lost men are given a new start because God became Man.
No matter what this December or future Decembers bring to my country, we can rejoice at what the first Christmas brought – the source of Hope.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Davidson Scott was born and raised in a small town in Sierra Leone, West Africa. After college he served with The International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES). He has worked for World Relief Sierra Leone and the Evangelical Fellowship of Sierra Leone. After completing his studies in the USA, he will return to Sierra Leone to work for IFES.
NOTE: This article is reprinted by permission from “Hope For A Despairing World,” CISF (Christian International Scholarship Foundation), Lake Forest, Illinois, 2003.