IS IT NOT ironic how society shows disdain for the likes of Bin Laden, Hussein, Gaddafi and Arafat, while showing admiration for the late Nelson Mandela? We can certainly brand this man along with the same group of names mentioned above. It is a morally sick condition to elevate terrorists, where wrong is called right and hailed as inspiring.

Society at large will defend and praise this criminal, refusing to research the facts and truth about this icon but lazily opt to be spoonfed lies through a wide range of media entertainment. We say we don’t like to be lied to or dictated to; well, we have an abundance of that through our education system, through our media and our governments (authorities that ought to stand for justice and righteousness). Many of us think we are sharp and clever while ‘Big Brother’ really shows who’s really in charge.

Shall we therefore hail Hitler due to some of the great things he did? Shall we love Stalin or Lenin? Shall we ignore the facts and neglect weighing the balance with Mandela?  Is the bad to be outweighed by the good? What kind of ‘good’ overshadows the crime? Is what we call good really praiseworthy? How we look at that determines our conclusions, whether for better or worse; our perspectives determine our principles and conduct.

The world prefers to admire and mourn over a criminal rather than over the One Who gave His life as a ransom to bring true freedom. “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Galatians 4:4-5). We all know that Christmas Day has not yet arrived, but many certainly get into the ‘Christmas spirit’ weeks beforehand; so why don’t we instead focus and worship the Messiah Who alone is worthy to be adored? Just as the Jews failed to perceive the Saviour before their very eyes, so many today are blindly restricted in recognising the true Liberator.

Freedom means knowing the truth, no matter how painful it may be at times; in the end it will bring true liberty. This is the season, not to mourn over a terrorist, but to celebrate our Saviour, Jesus Christ Who came into the world to destroy the works of the evil one, to liberate those who are oppressed, to be the light to those who walk in darkness, to bring life where death has reigned – indeed, to reconcile man and God. In Christ no sin was found; no crime could be brought against him – except for Him revealing His deity as the Son of God – yet He was made to be sin on our behalf that we may walk free in the life that He gives us in exchange for tyranny.