Message summary: This message is for those might shrug and say "maybe all is well for you, but it doesn't feel like all is well for me".

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"For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38,39).

Many years ago in northern Pennsylvania our church put on a play based on the book, "All is Well" by Frank Peretti. The recurring theme during the entire play was "All Is Well", though the circumstances of the story would indicate otherwise. Michael W. Smith wrote the lyrics of a song to complement the theme of the book:

The nature of our ministry is walking beside people when all is not well. During the Christmas season it just doesn't seem right that people must suffer pain or experience loss.

For these and many like them it sure doesn't feel like all is well.

The message of Christmas on the deepest level, a level experienced only by faith, is that "All is well" is due to Christ's birth and the fulfillment of His mission. That’s very hard to hear (or read) when it would seem that all is not well, but on the authority of God’s Word "All is well". The angel’s message to the shepherds and really to all of us was and is, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people" (Luke 2:10).

The "Good News" Christmas message is this, "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11). Jesus came to save us or we might say rescue us. His birth in a stable eventually led Him to the cross. His death on the cross provides salvation, peace, freedom and eternal life to all who by faith embrace it.  Dietrich Bonhoeffer describes the act of God's reconciliation to the human race like this:

When we fully embrace that God substituted His beloved Son to take on our sin guilt, once and for all. This brings vital perspective to the daily ins and outs, ups and downs that we tend to fix our focus on in the ever-changing here and now. We need to focus our hearts on the promises of God and that which cannot change our eternal destiny. Indeed all is ultimately well.

This is the highest level of understanding and acceptance of God's will, that "All is well" and can be embraced by all who place their trust in Christ even in the midst of circumstances that would otherwise dictate, "All is not well". As some of you are reading our message you’re likely feeling that this message is for you.

Horatio Spafford expresses this resolve in the hymn, “It is Well”: "Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, 'It is well. It is well with my soul!'"

Can you, like Paul, declare, "I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord". Are you convinced of this? If so, there is no greater blessing! Indeed, all is well!

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13