The world stands under the shadow of destruction. Were it not for God's love for us in Jesus, we would face that same end. God, however, is the Creator, the Life-Giver, and the Joy-Bringer. The goal of his holiness is not destruction, but redemption. The goal of his righteousness is not anger, but salvation. Jesus came to our world, a world headed for destruction, and placed God's stamp of grace upon it. He came to reverse the powers of decay, death, and destruction and put in their place permanence, life, and salvation. Jesus is God's great reminder to us that he not only loves us but that he also has only good and glorious intentions for our lives and our eternal futures.