Although difficult and results may even be later, solving this case and bringing justice to everyone will make a big difference in a country which has been known of delayed justice or denied justice. Nevertheless, the theme this yuletide season is not only of the massacre itself, it is not death, but more than that, it is beginning anew for Mr. Lauro Vizconde and also for the suspects who had been freed. Most of them pleaded not guilty of the massacre and all of them have been rehabilitated inside the prison walls. Life is dear and if we only know the true value of life that God gave, we will actually do everything we have to save one person a day from the brink of death. Likewise, we will not spend our lives on empty chatter and on vain things that does not produce any significance on the New Age to come. Jesus said “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt 16:26, NIV). Life has to be the focus of our education, including our very works should be evaluated on their significance on this life, what has your life done lately to improve this world before you die? Or what have you given that this world should hope for and cling to life?

Assessments and continued re-evaluation of our lives should be done every year and especially as the year is about to end. Have you done better this year than the last one? Or you stumbled and fall and until now you are still licking your wounds? Get up, rise up and run again because your past should not determine what you can do for your future. I have a simple principle which I think most successful people do hold in varied ways. I cast away my burdens at the feet of the Lord, tell him about them and ask for the grace to overcome them.

I also ask for wisdom how to solve them. Maybe He does not speak to me face to face as Moses did, but my prayers are answered in simple ways. The next day, a person would just drop by and tell some stories and insights just popped into my head that cracks the problem away. Sometimes, a reading material suddenly has the answer of the question I am looking for; or a friend gives a text message that really speaks of the matter. I know it is from God beyond any doubt because I prayed. This has not occurred only in one year but in fact for more than 10 years now since I was born again! Speaking of hopeless justice, there really is no one hopeless, because clinging to God brings expectations that its fruit is guaranteed to bloom so long as we continue to hope and fail not to pray. The hopeless ones are those who resigned their will against their problems; these people see problems BIGGER than their God who can help them solve.

A good leader will seldom surrender his will to a problem, but tackles it right away and looks for a solution. Are you a good leader? More than 2000 years ago, a writer wrote the following words that brought hope to billions already, “For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God” (Heb 7:18-19, NKJV). I did not understand the meaning of this passage until the Holy Spirit illuminated my eyes, indeed, He was speaking, the Law (Old Covenant) was weak and unprofitable because it cannot make anyone perfect. Stated in simple way, no single person can be made sinless by the law.

So what is the use of such law? Basically it leads us to the Lord, so that we will understand that no single person ever born on earth can actually fulfil perfectly any of the commandments of God, except His Son. When His Son came, He brought the better covenant. It is a better covenant because it brought hope! Through His blood, we were all purchased from sin; we were all ransomed from death! (More of this in my book The Ransom just email (edmacusi@gmail.com) me and I will send you the ebook version free). But apart from being rescued from death, Jesus also made the way for us to become PERFECT so that we can draw near to God! That in effect, made Him the greatest Savior of the human race and the greatest Redeemer we had. So whenever the Lord looks at you, He does not see you, but His Son in you because you have been covered by His blood; Jesus has paid the ultimate price for your redemption.

Whenever I thought about this, my heart rejoices that He died for a great sinner like me. And the song “Washed by the Blood” resonates in my ears and I feel joy in my inmost parts that I have been covered and purchased by His blood though, undeserving of any favor. I feel more confident also to approach Him as my Father because Jesus made the way for me to be reconnected with my Creator. Brothers and Sisters, as we celebrate this Christmas, let us henceforth rejoice of the birth of our Lord and Savior, always thinking that His sacrifice made way for us to draw closer to God. Why not make your goal to be closer to Him each day? Jesus has broken the division between God and Man, sin is no longer the impenetrable curtain that separate us from Him; we have been ransomed by His blood, bought with a price so let us henceforth throw away the yoke of slavery that sin still holds sway of us.

Since we have been adopted into His family, pardoned, considered as true sons and daughters, there is a demand that we make amendments, to follow the law of the household, to put away sins from before us and to be holy for He is holy. Therefore, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you” (James 4:8-10). It is our hope that this Christmas will not only bring you joy but everlasting hope and blessings. Merry Christmas and a joyous and prosperous New year to everyone!