O come, all ye faithful

"O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem! Come and behold Him, born the King of angels! O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!"

-- John F. Wade

When I was 16 years old, Centenary United Methodist Church sponsored a Christmas essay contest for area high school students on the topic "What is the real spirit of Christmas?"

I won the contest, got to read my essay at Centenary, and the Southeast Missourian printed excerpts from it. Here's some of what was printed.

" 'All glory be to God on high, And to the earth be peace, Good will henceforth from heaven to men, Begin and never cease.' -- Nahum Tate

"This verse from 'While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks' joyously proclaims that love and peace and good will are the true joys of Christmas.

"I once read about a group of children who made dolls at Christmas for other children who were 'less fortunate' than they. These children who labored so patiently were blind! Yet they were so full of love and good will that the loss of their sight didn't stop them from helping their fellow man.

"At times it seems that the world will never cease its hating, lying, fighting and killing. The Christian knows that these failings will someday be replaced by perfect love and peace. We can have hope, although we see the many imperfections of this world, because we know the love of God -- the love that sent His Son to earth to redeem us. We need never fear the tribulations of this world or death itself because we have God's comfort and protection. The story of the Christ Child tells us this, and gives us God's promise of the greatest of all rewards -- eternal life. This is the peace all Christians know, although the world may never end its fighting.

"For all this -- love, good will and peace -- be glory and praise to God."

A lot of years have passed since I wrote those words, and I'm overawed at God's faithfulness. I've made so many bad choices and mistakes, sinned much, and gotten off track more than a toy race car. I haven't always been faithful, but God never let go of me. Because of his love, the divinity donned diapers 2,000 years ago, and he still comes into our lives on Christmas and every day year after year after year. He's faithful.

"O come, all ye faithful." Who were they? Mary, who believed an angel so completely that she willingly endured the scorn and rejection of her neighbors and friends to birth God's son. Joseph, who believed and acted upon God's dream to protect his betrothed and the holy child.

Shepherds, who "came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger" (Luke 2:16). The wise men, who came and bowed before the Christ, as wise men still do. But of all the faithful at the humble stable, the most faithful was the One in the manger.

The hymn invites, "O come, all ye faithful." Perhaps, though, you haven't always been faithful to God. You know what? Most of us haven't. I could fill up newspapers if I had to list my sins, but that's probably true for all of us.

I'm thankful for faithful Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the wise men. But I'm most thankful for my faithful God who shows me "Amazing grace! How sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind, but now I see." (John Newton)

I'm thankful for a faithful God who brought me back to writing about him. If you don't know him, I'd be glad to write you about him.

June Seabaugh is a member of Christ Church of the Heartland in Cape Girardeau.