By J. Russell Capps
Christian Action League
December 18, 2019
Most, if not all, have experienced a point when we were in what we believed was a desperate need. I went to the dictionary to study the word desperate. There were several definitions ranging from “without hope” to “moved by despair,” to “extreme need or anxiety.”
America’s desperate need is for revival – spiritual awakening. Churches in days gone by used to hold special “revival meetings” – week-long revivals, then two or three-day meetings – then none at all. One would have to look hard to find even Sunday evening services anymore.
When we consider the daily news of happenings in our nation today, we can easily argue that our beloved nation is in desperate need. Congress has unbelievably passed a vote to impeach our President without any factual indication of wrongdoing. The historic values that have made America great are being trampled on so many fronts today. I submit that America is at a point of desperate need.
Christmas day is only days away. Christmas is a time of hope. At this season, we acknowledge in a special way the One who came to the world to bring hope. I always, every Christmas, reflect on, and am blessed by, Roy Lessin’s message entitled “Our Greatest Need.” His message reads, “If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent a scientist. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist. But since our greatest need was forgiveness, God sent us a Savior”.
So in this day of desperation in America comes Christmas. I am grateful that our President, at the ceremonial lighting of the National Christmas Tree in the Rose garden, a few evenings ago, stated it well. He expressed that “this is not about lighting a Christmas Tree, but rather about observing the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Since Jesus was born into the world to bring hope, we can meditate on that hope in a time of America’s state of desperate need.
In the spirit of that hope, may I wish all a very Merry and hopeful Christmas!
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J. Russell Capps served in the N.C. House from 1994-2006. Capps is also a long-standing member of the Christian Action League’s Board of Directors.