Cain killed Abel because Abel’s works were righteous and his were not. But Jesus came to forgive sin, so Merry Christmas anyway.

Then there was Lamech (great, great, great, great grandson of Cain) who escalated the violence by vowing to avenge himself seven times over. But as sin increases, God increases grace. So, Merry Christmas anyway.

God told Noah the earth was filled with violence and that all their imaginations were evil continually (Genesis 6:5-13). So, what does Noah do in the face of evil? He kept preaching righteousness and built the ark. Now, baptism in Jesus’ name saves us just as the flood waters saved Noah. Yes, Merry Christmas anyway.

Today, literally thousands of years later a famous celebrity couple is murdered in their home. Students are shot to death on an upscale college campus. Assassins open fire on a beach leaving several people dead and many wounded. Church buildings in another place are burnt and those who name the name of Christ are hacked to death. Wars rage while corruption at the highest levels is standard. Drugs flow like rivers and the innocence of children has become a commodity of the most depraved among us. Godlessness seems to be the norm.

But Solomon wrote 3,000 years ago:

“What has been, it is what will be, and what has been done, it is what will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which one might say, ‘See this, it is new’? It has already existed for ages which were before us.”
- Ecclesiastes 1:9-10

Today’s evil is just as the evil of yesteryear. Rather than point the finger, however, I hear Paul’s words reverberating in my ear, “all have sinned and are coming short of the glory of God.”

But Jesus has come to restore that glory. So, Merry Christmas anyway.

“These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
- John 16:33