Someone has said that there are four ages of man:

1) When you believe in Santa Claus
2) When you don't believe in Santa Claus
3) When you are Santa Claus
4) When you look like Santa Claus

At New Years we are very conscious of the passage of time through our lives. Here we are standing together on the threshold of a new year - and there is one question we want to consider - through the passage of time in our lives: “What does it mean that God is with us?”

On December 25th we celebrated Christmas - God with us - Immanuel - and then on January 6th - we Armenians again celebrate Christmas. In between is New Years - our examination of our past and future. Its an interesting reminder of the presence of God in our past and future. But what does it mean - God is with us?

This morning I’d like to share three passages with you - to help us think about the presence of God in our lives.

Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”

Matthew 1:21-23 - the fulfillment of that prophecy - speaking of the virgin Mary: “‘....She will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: ‘Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and His name shall be called Immanuel’ (which means, God with us).”

And finally Isaiah 9:6 - the description of Immanuel - God with us: “For to us a child is born, - notice these words - to us a child is born - stressing the humanity of Jesus - to us a Son is given - stressing the divinity of Jesus - God has given to us His divine Son - and the government will be upon His shoulder, and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

As we’re thinking about the presence of God in our lives - these four names - these four descriptions - of Immanuel help us to understand just who God is - or can be - in our lives.

First, Isaiah says that:

1. JESUS IS THE WONDERFUL COUNSELOR

According to George Barna - who is a researcher of these things - in the last few years our understanding of the purpose of life has undergone a radical shift. Living in harmony with God and His creation is now seen as mere religious sentiment. Today’s society values time over money, self protection and suspicion rule over mutual trust, loyalty is to our self first, relationships are forged out of convenience, one’s word shifts with the circumstances, investment is in the short term - the focus is on immediate results, traditions are dismissed, humanity is the center of reality, and our society champions personal preference and consensus over absolute standards and truth - we are seeking truth within ourselves rather than God.

Charles Sykes, an author and journalist, describes America as having become “a society of victims.” In his eyes, we have become a nation whose values shift has left us ready “not merely to feel sorry for oneself, but to wield one’s resentment as weapons of social advantage and to regard deficiencies as entitlements” Sykes’ studies have uncovered the new battle cry of the American adult: “It’s not my fault.”

Consider this:

The Menendez brothers murder their parents in California, then boldly claim that it was their parents’ own fault.

The President of American University is caught making obscene telephone calls from his office, but he argues that he wasn’t really to blame since he had been abused as a child.

A ten-year-old burned down his parents’ home after watching a video that portrayed the same actions. His parents stood by him, criticizing the video as having caused such wrong behavior in their child.

With all the accusations made against Bill Clinton - moral and ethical - the best quote - in my mind - from the last presidential election was by Bob Dole - “I can’t believe they’re going to elect this guy.”

Is it a surprise that society is in the shape its in? That so many live in fear and anger - struggling with the basic issues of life - swimming in quicksand. How do we raise Godly kids in an ungodly world? How do we maintain our integrity in an unethical world? Where do we turn for help in all this?

We have an amazing privilege - to come to the Wonderful Counselor about our emotional, physical, and spiritual problems. He is as close as a prayer and He will always understand. God is honest with us - He speaks honestly of who we are - our true needs - and His perfect solution. In all of this He is the divine counselor who takes all of His divine wisdom and lovingly applies it to where we live our lives.

Secondly, Isaiah says that:

2. JESUS IS THE MIGHTY GOD

He is the fortress that we can turn to for refuge and protection.

Here in the Bay Area there was the Loma Prieta earthquake. In Los Angeles we had the Northridge earthquake. I remember being woken up by the earthquake - Karen got up and went to pick up our son - and I thought this was really silly - it was just another little quake. But when our bedroom set started to fall on me I thought it was time to get up.

We stood in an upstairs doorway - in the dark feeling the floor roll under us like a ship - listening to pretty much everything falling - crashing - coming apart - and I was wondering if the house would hold together.

After it was over - we went next door - and checked on our neighbors. I will never forget this scene - gathered with our neighbors - in that shared camaraderie that comes after disaster - in their candle-lit living room - neighbors who I don’t think ever went to church - or knew God. I said, let’s pray - and boom - they were on their knees - and we prayed and thanked God for His protection.

Some people say, “When you get to the end of your rope - tie a knot and hang on.” What happens when we can’t hang on? We’ve all been there.

We need to realize the presence of our mighty God - He is our fortress of refuge - our defender - in times of danger and of safety.

Thirdly, Isaiah says that:

3. JESUS IS THE ETERNAL FATHER

He’s our Father - who gives provision for our lives now and through eternity. Deep in our hearts we believe in a God who provides for His children. Yet, we struggle to believe when we see so many things that seem to deny His goodness.

Corrie Ten Boom wrote: "Often I have heard people say, 'How good God is! We prayed that it would not rain for our church picnic, and look at the lovely weather!' Yes, God is good when He sends good weather. But God was also good when He allowed my sister, Betsie, to starve to death before my eyes in a German concentration camp. I remember one occasion when I was very discouraged there. Everything around us was dark, and there was darkness in my heart. I remember telling Betsie that I thought God had forgotten us. 'No, Corrie,' said Betsie, 'He has not forgotten us. Remember His Word: "For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him.’””

Corrie concludes, "There is an ocean of God's love available--there is plenty for everyone. May God grant you never to doubt that victorious love--whatever the circumstances."

Fourth:

4. JESUS IS THE PRINCE OF PEACE

Long ago a man sought the perfect picture of peace. Not finding one that satisfied, he announced a contest to produce this masterpiece. The challenge stirred the imagination of artists everywhere, and paintings arrived from far and wide. Finally the great day of revelation arrived. The judges uncovered one peaceful scene after another, while the viewers clapped and cheered. The tensions grew. Only two pictures remained veiled. As a judge pulled the cover from one, a hush fell over the crowd. A mirror-smooth lake reflected lacy, green birches under the soft blush of the evening sky. Along the grassy shore, a flock of sheep grazed undisturbed. Surely this was the winner.

The man with the vision uncovered the second painting himself, and the crowd gasped in surprise. Could this be peace? A tumultuous waterfall cascaded down a rocky precipice; the crowd could almost feel its cold, penetrating spray.

Stormy-gray clouds threatened to explode with lightning, wind and rain. In the midst of the thundering noises and bitter chill, a spindly tree clung to the rocks at the edge of the falls. One of its branches reached out in front of the torrential waters as if foolishly seeking to experience its full power. A little bird had built a nest in the elbow of that branch. Content and undisturbed in her stormy surroundings, she rested on her eggs. With her eyes closed and her wings ready to cover her little ones, she manifested peace that transcends all earthly turmoil.

The peace that Jesus gives is not the absence of trouble, but is rather the confidence that He is there with us always. It has been said, "Safety consists not in the absence of danger but in the presence of God."

What does it mean - God with us? The greatest single distinguishing feature of the presence of God is that our imagination gets lost when thinking about it. Imagine - we are guarded on all sides by the Lord. We have God before us (Isaiah 48:17), God behind us (Isaiah 30:21), God on our right (Psalm 16:8), God to our left (Job 23:9), God above us (Psalm 36:7), God's arms underneath us (Deuteronomy 33:27), and His Spirit within us (I Corinthians 3:16). He counsels us - protects us - provides for us - and offers us true peace.

New Years is an opportunity to look back and see God’s presence - and to look forward and to trust Him.

Do you need counsel? A defender? Provision for your life? Peace in your heart? Jesus is the light which can break into our darkness - and He desires so much to counsel us - to be our refuge - to pour out His love - to bring His peace. What a tremendous reality - God with us. And all He asks is that we will trust Him.