The Reason for the Season:
The Significance of God’s Plan and A Rescue Mission
From the very beginning, God announced His plan to rescue humanity from the grip of sin and Satan. This rescue mission was foretold in prophetic promises, revealing His love and commitment to restore His creation.
Isaiah 7:14 prophesied, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son and shall call His name Immanuel.” Centuries later, this promise was fulfilled when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Isaiah 53 further unveils His role as the Lamb of God who would bear the sins of the world: “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes, we are healed.”
But why did we need saving? The Bible explains sin as falling short of God’s standard (Romans 3:23). It is turning away from the Creator to trust in ourselves or false gods to solve our problems. Sin separates us from God, just as a dirty child must first be washed before being embraced. Similarly, God must cleanse our hearts and minds from the stain of sin to restore our relationship with Him.
Paul writes in Romans 3:10, “There is none righteous, no, not one.” None of us can earn salvation through good works, because even our best efforts are tainted by selfishness. As Jesus said in John 3:19, “Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness rather than light.” Like darkness cannot produce light, sinful humanity cannot create peace with God by our own strength.
The good news is that God doesn’t leave us in our brokenness. A repentant and humble heart opens the door for His cleansing and transformation. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). God is always willing, always waiting, to wash us clean and give us a new beginning.
Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us of God’s heart: “For I know the plans I have for you… plans for peace and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Imagine starting the new year, 2025, with divine peace and joy—joy that is eternal and born out of God’s love.
Pause for a moment and reflect on the past year. How many times has God shown up in your life? How many miracles has He done? How often has He tried to reveal Himself, but you were too busy or believed your own wisdom was enough?
The truth is, it’s not about our efforts. God is patient, loving, and waiting for you to turn to Him with all your heart. He desires a personal, one-on-one relationship with you. Jesus promises in John 8:32, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
This Christmas can be the beginning of a purpose-driven life in 2025. All God asks is for us to repent—turning away from our independence and self-reliance—and seek Him. Like the prodigal son, He is ready to welcome you back, cleanse your heart, and restore your life.
As Revelation 21:5 declares, “Behold, I make all things new.” Let this season be a fresh start for you, filled with God’s hope, joy, and purpose.
God bless you and your journey toward a brighter, God-centered 2025.
—Ravi Vastrad
All things ‘R’ possible…
