For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His Name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end. .... Isaiah 9:6-7a

Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge, aka William and Kate, are expecting a child.

Wow!

News agencies around the world are going positively nuts with the news. Still, I suppose that is to be expected. And although every child is special, this child is special-er. What with the change in British laws, it won't make any difference if the child is a boy or a girl. He or she will set the tone for a nation and someday reign over what is left of the British Empire.

Let's see, what are they saying about this wunderkind?

They are saying he or she is wonderful. Some are saying he or she will be mighty in influence. There are those who are even praying he or she will usher in an age of peace. I guess that would make the child the prince or princess of peace. According to these anglophiles, it almost sounds as if the prophetic words of Isaiah I just read were directed to the child of William and Kate -- and not the Son of God.

Well, I don't think so.

The truth is no matter how good this yet-to-be-born child will be, he or she is not just going to be that good. William and Kate's child will be a sinner and will make sinful decisions and will, like the rest of us regular folk, need a Savior.

That's right, we all need a Savior. At this time of year the Klaus Haus receives numerous letters from folks, who tell me of the spectacular progress of their children and grandchildren. Pam and I send one out ourselves. Reading these letters I consider myself blessed to live in a world that has so many children who combine the best attributes of Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Jim Thorpe, Abraham Lincoln, and Rudolph Valentino. According to parents or grandparents, their little descendants are just about perfect.

And that's the key. They're just about perfect.

This means, if they're not perfect, they need a Savior.

The Savior: that's the Child Isaiah was telling us about. True Man and true God, Jesus was a Child unlike any other, and He grew into a Man unlike any other. From start to finish, from beginning to end the Christ did that which was necessary to save us. His life was offered up as the price that needed to be paid so we, and our almost-perfect children and grandchildren might be forgiven and saved.

I know... for the next months, the press will be concentrating on the birth of the future king or queen of England. Me ... I'm going to be remembering the birth of another Baby -- one whose kingdom was not of this world. I'm going to remember Jesus, the Child who was born, so all our almost-perfect children and grandchildren might be forgiven and live forever.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, although the world is filled with many special children, help us remember Your Son whose life, death and resurrection grants forgiveness and eternal life to all who are brought to faith. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 84, 90    Revelation 9

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