Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-12-26
A Christmas Message
bN DIR. T.. n. McFNDEN,
First Presbyterian Church.

named.
II was a day monumental in the history OF
,he world. for IL marked the central fact in
history. Here mercy and truth met together,
righteousness and peace Kissed each other. In
inns day that we celebrate all days find and
oeri'" their true significance. without the In
SaFhatlon. life would be II vast. uRsolvable
mystery and 4 dismal failure. But with the
revelation. inspiration, and salvation which IL
brings we may lift our Gloria in ExccIsis"
and join our juhilant melody with the re-
deemed on high.
Thousands of inspiring messages this day
"rIhSS 10 us at this season. Let me mention
only three:
l. This Babe. born in the city OF David.
hcralas forth the truth that God is one with
US IN Il genuine human nature to sympathize
ana also to dignity this nature of ours Thar
was IA great truth that the Word became flesh
ana dweit among US. In the same sense in
"h'Sh Tic was divine. in exactly that same
sense He became human. While lie did not
''puicatc His ~Godhcad, He was as truly n part
IL humanity in all essential attributes ms any
zane that was ever born in our homes. He
remained Deity, but lie became brother. He
answers all the tests by which you may know
your brother man. He was born. grow T.,
stature ana wisdom. toiled. loved. hungered,
.c1occd' sorrowcd, suffered. died. Deity comes
|" us III no unfamiliar form or binding CLEAN
Vi heavenly light that cannot be understood
or dazZlcs. When the Greek soIdior ,,,..r,,
'ctore his small son arnorcd for the FRAY.
az "'d was frightened and terrified. But
"'e" M he'nct was removed. the son saw the
''thcTs race and, unarriyhtcd, rcioiced in his
presence and companionshiu.. The Babe of
hethiehem perpleNed us with no such rurb
re III" not mystify with any foreign speech.
" common people heard Him gladly. lie did
MOI Withdraw from men AS II HI. wcr. NJ
hobier lineage than We. He dwclt among men
looked upon men with human eyes fun of
'"t' 'ouchcd men with human hands and
spohe win human voice and speech. He
"a!hed upon This same old earth. He b.ca,po
IicSH. i became "a Rrnth.r &c y.tr -. ~
ueeiner. He that hath seen Me hath seen Tho
,'tner. no" saycst thou then, Show US tho
* the season ring out with the
Glad note that we have as our God not al,
nuS'eFe' cruei Master. but Il Brother who can
"e touched with the feeling Of our innrmi,ies
ms liabc born In bethlehem emphasizes
the great possibilities OF our human nature
when linked with the Divine and under me
Impeding and ennobling Influences. II Ia
sadly true that the carnal mind is enmi,v
s".'s' 81 IL Is not in man that walkcth to
"irect hs steps. All have sinncd and come
short OF the glory Of God. Bu, one yreu,
cheering fact in connection with us is thai
our nature is capable OF the divine. /, can
pE 'he divine powcr--thc dwelling within rs
CT fiihnSe!'-o made like unto Ills own. God
can and VIII come into IL and dwell in il IA.
can take II up INTO His own nature. wh.,
promise and power there are to us of which
'his u true! What great range OF culture, OF
happiness. what illimitable stretches of de-
veiopincnt there are opening; 10 us who ara
ana when possessed OF a nature in which
christ dwclls and which God in Him ,.uidcs
Iohtro!s' anu energiIcs. The command is 20.
YORK. we feel the stress of the strain and
the eFii ana the difficulties. But this is the in
SpiRltion. the ncvcr-failing source of cour,rc
Tor us in any work which the Master gives
as to do. Discouraged we may become. sunken
low we may be. almost hopeless we may think
me TASK to he. Eut the Babe of Bethlehem
speaks to us as never before and bids MS re-
joice that We are partners with Him and par
takers OF the divine nature. Therefore, all
things are possible.
D. rms Babe. whose birthday we celebrate.
emphasizes more than all the joyous fact of
et"rna! life through Him. Salvation is no, of
works lest any should boast. But there is life
Tor II look. Flesh and blood did not reveal 1t.
but the Babe Himself did.
The world lay In darkness II wos wc,rv
OF It's own efforts. Prophets ana prophecies
had ceased. Socrates. who came nearer the
truth than most men along this line, said that,
"uniess ii pleased God 10 send us some enc
from Himself to instruct us there was no
nope OF ever succeeding In reforming the
riorals Of men. The best course to pursue is
To- wait patiently until some one comes"
Many were saying that all religions are good
and true and therefore one is as good as
another. The philosophers were saying tina,
all religions were false, therefore. one religion
IS as good as another. The oracles were ali
silent. But At las; the great clock of God
ticking slowly through the centuries struck a,
the right moment. Mans extremity became
Gods opportunity. And as for Abraham, there
was 4 ram caught fit for the sacrifice, so 10
man helpless and hopeless God came in the
person OF Ills own Son giving exactly that
which they needcd-vision Of Him, Brother
hood with Him. Salvation through Him, the
open path TO heaven under His leadership. No
wonder when the angels announced the Won
dcrfui event, the choirs of heaven could not
keep silent. but sang with ecstatic
to God in the Highest and on earth peace,
good will 10 men.
No wonder that With JOY and gladncss we
celebrate this divine event. 1t means saliva
ton. That means happiness. joy and peace.
There is no place for gloom or despair. or
defeat or sadness in the faith and hope of the
Babes followers. With heads erect, our faces
20 the future, strong and courageous we should
march along LIES pilgrimage, joyful in the
fact that He who came and dwelt among us,
opening the heavens for us, will conquer and
that we through Him Will enjoy eternal rest
and reward.
We need not like the shepherds of old bring
gifts OF gold and frankincense and myrrh. We
need not go TO Palestine to battle with our
tears, rs an expression OF our gratitude, tho
places where His blessed feet did tread. But
we can and may come ~joyfully this happy
season. to OFFER ourselves, our worahip, our
hearts, our all to covenant anCw fidelity in all
our relations one with another and with Him
rot for one day or SESSION. but for nil the years.