"Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
(Isa 55:6-9)

There are many disputes about Christmas today.  In fact most people focus on the disputes--even those who should know better.  And the message above Christmas goes unheard.

That message is an old one, "Seek the LORD..."  God has been calling man for thousands of years: sending prophets, priests, kings, to call people back to the LORD.  Some two thousand years ago He sent His Son, prominently announcing Him with a prophecy and a star.  Yet for all that, Jesus lay unknown in a manger except for a greeting by lowly shepherds.  Again, many may focus on the angelic host or the wise men and their gifts, thus missing the gift that came from God.  For the Son of God laid aside the privileges of deity and poured himself into human flesh.  He became partaker of our physical weaknesses, put up with temptation, and ultimately bore our sin.  He showed us God definitively, walking among us, teaching, healing, correcting, and loving us despite our hatred for Him. 

His ways are not our ways, that is certain.  Who among us will commit to dying for even the ones we love, much less for those who are our enemies.  Before you protest, just imagine yourself dying for people of opposite political persuasion, social class, or a host of other divisive issues.  Imagine yourself dying in the place of hardened criminals: murderers, rapists, child molesters.   Imagine yourself dying for those who scorn your very name.  No, His ways are not our ways. 

Yet the call still goes out: "Seek the LORD...let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts."  The call to return to God...while He may be found.  There is great compassion for us from the Lord.  If not, He would never have sent His Son.  He would not continue to call us.  Yet there is a time limit on the call, for individuals and nations. 

We must seek Him while He may be found.  Once judgment has begun it is too late for mercy.