Pre Christmas Message : God is Love

Vermini Sanasam *

St. Joseph's Cathedral Church located at Mantripukhri, Imphal

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not punish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:16, 17). God's sacrificial love is for the whole world which includes living beings, especially human beings.

"The earth is the Lord's and all its fullness - the world and those who dwell therein". (Psams 24:1). Satan, the evil one is still trying to destroy the world and all those who dwell therein by any possible means, morally and spiritually. And is even trying to destroy God's love towards us. The evil one has many different designs to distort the words of God, "so loved the world", but will not succeed. These evil designs are basically hating one another. Many people hate each other.

Jesus Christ said, "And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold" (Matthew 24:12). Yes, it is true in this world, especially in a tiny state like Manipur. We know that Manipur is inhabited by different tribes, caste or creed.

By the grace of Jesus Christ, there are men and women who believe Jesus Christ as their personal saviour. So, the love of God is in their hearts. Nowadays, the love of God has grown cold among the people.

The major community disowns the tribals as their brothers, although they proclaim their love in their lips. But it is not so in their hearts. Is this the love of God? A the fruit of hatred builds up day by day, the rift between the hill and valley people becomes wider and wider. Love is now like cold wax. "Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love covers all offence". (Proverbs 10:12)

To hate, to discriminate against those who look different, is a universal trait of human nature.

Now, God speaks to the Christians, "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this than to lay down one's life for his friends". (John 15:12,13). We know that many Christian brothers and sisters among the different castes have been living together since time immemorial in the hills and the valley.

People have different political ideology and they think in such a way as this - "I will satisfy my needs alone and not others". In another words, "I will only love my Meitei, Naga or Kuki brethren" and so on. Is this real Christian love? Jesus said, "This is my command, love one another".

Where is Jesus' love in your heart? My brothers and sisters, this world is temporary. It will surely melt down and pass away in the last day. (Matthew 24:35). "For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out" (I Timothy 6:7). Our ultimate permanent home is in Heaven, and not on this earth.

So, what are you quarrelling for? "He who says he (christians) is in the light, and hate his brother is in darkness until now. He who loves abides in the light (of Jesus) and there is no cause for stumbling in Him. But he who hates his brother is a murderer and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in Him." (I John 2:9,11; 3:15). If someone says, "I love God" and hates his brother, he is a liar for if he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

The prince of this world (evil one) is his full strength is trying to destabilize the true love of God among the brethren. There is lawlessness in every part of Manipur. Bandhs, blockades, killings, kidnappings, extortions, etc. are a part and parcel of life in Manipur. This is lawlessness and it is sin. If sin or hatred prevails like these situations, there is no peace at all. If peace is not there, then the work of Satan is prevailing.

He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested that He might destroy the works of the devil; whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in Him, and he cannot keep sinning because he has been born of God.

In this, the children of God and the children of the devil are manifested. Whosoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. (I John 3:8-10). That is why God so loved the world (you). For this purpose, God sent His only begotten Son-Jesus Christ into the world to save the sinners.

I say that there is only one possible solution for Manipur and that is vital experience with Christ on the part of all races. However, until we come to recognise Him as the Prince of Peace and receive His love in our hearts, the racial tensions and hatred will increase.

Keeping in mind these Biblical truths, let us now repent our sins and turn towards God. Let this Christmas be celebrated in the truest of its meaning. Let this Christmas be not one that is celebrated with good food and nice clothes or from any materialistic point of celebrations. It is time to open our hearts to receive Christ. Or so to say, let Jesus Christ be born in our hearts this Christmas.

It is time we realize our responsibility to share the love of God among the various communities of our beloved State and bring the much needed change, each in our own little ways with the purest of minds and the unfailing love of God. May the Good Lord shower His blessings upon the state of Manipur abundantly and let peace prevail this Christmas!

Wishing You All a Merry Christmas!