Summer in Australia means Christmas and, for many, heading to the beach.
Our beaches see summer tragedies on a too regular basis. Perhaps a family group of inexperienced swimmers is chilling out on a sandbank which gives way and exposes them to a deadly rip. Once in the grip of a rip, it is a death trap if we try to escape by swimming against the water.
There is another rip to avoid at Christmas. This is the rip of trying to live against the whole flow of the universe and history.
On a Christian view, our world was created by God who remains the master of the universe. That is, there is a purpose to history which all moves to God’s good goal of everything being reconciled in Christ.
Our human choice to live ignoring God or living against his life plan, puts us outside this purpose and goal of God. We build our life on sand and try to live against the whole direction of the universe. This is as futile as trying to swim against rip off a summer beach. It cannot work and will end in tragedy sooner or later.
An ocean rip is deceptive as the appearance of calm waters masks the danger underneath. Likewise with the rip of life at Christmas time. We pretty up our houses with shiny tinsel and mask the pains of life with food and drinks. But underneath this, the tragedy of rebellion against God eats away. It is no surprise that rates of suicide and illnesses like depression skyrocket around Christmas and new year. Once the tinsel comes down and the ham and pudding are gone, the emptiness of life without God is even more dark.
An ocean rip is avoided by listening to the warnings and swimming in the safe place between the flags. The rip of life is avoided by listening to the warnings that God gives in the Bible. If we are caught in the rip of life there is a secure means of escape. In love, God sent Jesus to be the rescuing lifesaver of all who reach out in faith to take his hand.
This Christmas, do yourself a favour. Listen to the message of the Christmas carols and stories of Jesus’ birth. They tell the good news of Jesus the rescuer coming among us. Turn your face to God instead of your back. Put your trust in Jesus, the rescuer sent by God. Now that’s a safe Christmas that avoids the rip of life.
David Burke,
Moderator-General
December 2025
