This is the week after Christmas. Many are taking down their Christmas decorations, and recovering from the active holidays. The frenzy of Christmas shopping is past, and people are looking forward to New Year’s.

The coming of the Christ child was just the beginning of God’s wonderful plan for our lives.

It is now time to look at the work and life of Jesus Christ. Many people have forgotten that our values of peace, love and goodwill toward all men came from the Prince of Peace.

Our notions of living abundant lives rich with joy, love and helping others is because of Jesus. Lives of integrity and selfless service are based upon Christian teachings. We tend to forget that it is Christ who needs to be the Lord of every family and marriage.

When our nation abandoned raising up children in the admonition of the Lord, our country started a downhill spiral. It is so sad to see widespread unhappiness, depression, dysfunction and addictions. God has not left us, but many have left God as the center of their family and life.

Last Sunday, I asked my congregation to consider “What if Christ had not been born?” What if there was no Christmas, and no Christ to guide our nation, our society, our families, and our lives?

I used an article by Dr. Stanley Vasu to imagine a world without Christ. Spiritually, there would be no Christian literature, no churches, no deliverance from demonic forces of sin. There would be no concept of selfless Christian love, purity or holiness.

If the baby Jesus had not come, we would not have Christian hospitals, Christian orphanages, Christian suicide prevention centers, Christian schools, no Christian addiction treatment centers or Christian hunger programs. If Christ had not come, there would be no Christian influence for peace. We would have a culture without Christian love and caring at its core. There would be no Christian authors and no clean entertainment.

Christ has influenced countries to favor peace among nations. It is Christ who teaches compassion and reconciliation and to keep our children pure and away from bad influences. It is Christian values that advocate for respect for others and concern and care “for the least of these my brethren.” Matt. 25:40.

We can only wonder what kind of even more decadent society we would have, if Christ had not come.

Today, there are many people living as if Christ had never come. We wonder what is wrong with our society, yet many ignore the values of Christ. The answer is clear. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.” Matt. 6:33.

It is time to make the abundant, loving and joyful life in Christ our No. 1 priority. Let’s not put Christ in second place to anything. Invest your time and attention in Christ. The only way to change our country is one heart at a time.

Dr. Roger Holl is pastor of Sterling Grace Community Church, which meets Sundays at 10:30 a.m. at the Sterling Senior Center. Training is available for Christian Leadership Training and how to start a church. For further information, call 907-862-0336.