The Promise That Never Expires: A Christmas Eve Assurance
Pastor Rasol Manouchehri Ardakani - 24 December 2025
“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’”
Happy Christmas Eve!
We have made it. The chocolates in the calendar are almost gone. The presents are (hopefully) wrapped and under the tree. The fridge is stocked, and there is a hum of excitement in the air that you can almost touch. For children, tonight is the longest night of the year as they wait for morning. For adults, it is often a moment to finally sit down, breathe, and look at the lights.
On this holy night, as we stand on the edge of Christmas, I want to leave you with a promise that will last long after the decorations come down.
Throughout this series, we have looked at how God was with His people in the garden, in the desert, and in the manger. But the question that often haunts us is: "Will He stay?"
We live in a world where "forever" is a rare thing. People leave. Sometimes they move away for work. Sometimes relationships break down. Sometimes, tragically, death separates us from the ones we love. We are used to things ending. We are used to saying goodbye.
Because of this, many of us carry a deep, often unspoken fear of abandonment. We worry that if we mess up, or if we aren't interesting enough, or if life gets too hard, we will be left on our own.
But the writer of Hebrews gives us a promise from God that acts like an anchor for our souls: "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
In the original Greek language, this sentence is packed with double negatives. It is emphatic. It is like God is saying, "No, I will not leave you; no, never, ever." He wants to remove every single shred of doubt from our minds.
It is interesting that this promise is linked to contentment. The verse starts by telling us not to love money. Why? Because money offers a false sense of security. We think that if we have enough in the bank, we will be safe. But money can disappear. Markets can crash. Wallets can be stolen.
God offers a better security. He offers His permanent presence.
This means that the "God With Us" we celebrate at Christmas is not a seasonal visitor. He doesn't just turn up for the festivities and then disappear when January hits and the credit card bills arrive. He is committed to you. He is with you for the highs, the lows, and the boring bits in between.
As you go to bed tonight, perhaps with the excitement of tomorrow bubbling away, let this truth settle deep in your heart. You have a Friend who sticks closer than a brother. You have a Father who will never pack His bags and walk out on you.
Tomorrow we celebrate His arrival, but tonight we celebrate His staying power. He is here, and He is not going anywhere.
Prayer of the Day:
Father God, on this Christmas Eve, we are so grateful for the gift of Your presence. Thank You that You are not a temporary guest in our lives but a permanent resident. We praise You for the promise that You will never, ever leave us. As we sleep tonight, quiet our hearts with the knowledge that we are safe in Your hands, now and forever. Amen.