OR many years the tongue of prophet and priest had been silent, but at the time of which I write God had again spoken to men. Within the Temple at Jerusalem Zacharias had heard strange tidings of a great Deliverer, who was coming to the earth bringing blessing to the Jews and salvation for all nations.
Time passed on, until suddenly, at night, out on the plains of Bethlehem an angel host came forth out of heaven to declare to the shepherd watchers that He had come.
“Fear not," is the angel's word. “Is there, then, no cause for fear?" No, none! "But I have sinned, and, if I tell the honest truth, I believe that God is against me." But, see it is not so, for His first word is, “Fear not." Although we have sinned and turned our backs upon God yet He has not turned against us, for He has sent His Son that He may become the Savior of the world. And as He steps into the earth on His wonderful mission to save a ruined race we find Him," a Babe lying in a manger." That holy Person will by and by die in the sinners' stead, bear the sinners' sins, and be made sin. There is nothing to repel. On the contrary, if God has advanced towards us in such a way surely we may trust Him, and believe in His love for us. Believe in Him as a Savior-God," now is the accepted time." R. B.