Tuesday, December 28, 2010

The Afterglow

We don't like to give up Christmas. It's a sad day when we 'un-decorate' our home and remove the nativity scene and lights from the front yard. We find ourselves listening for the flutter of angel wings for many days as we linger in the afterglow of this wonderful season of celebration.

There are many who typically go to church just twice a year, Christmas and Easter. They usually aren't looking for a fresh angle on these timeless stories of the birth of Jesus, His death and resurrection. Even those who aren't believers often desire to hear the compelling accounts of our Lord. There is a special comfort in these never-changing God purposed events. Jesus Christ, the one constant in life, the same yesterday, today and forever - Hebrews 13:8. Some, even believers, are content with skimming through the Bible, or not reading it at all, but I wonder how life-changing it would be for them to boldly dive into the depths of truth and begin to see the Divine in the ordinary. If there is a TRUTH.....wouldn't everyone want to know it?

The truth is there's a lot more to the story than a baby born in Bethlehem to a virgin who was 'overshadowed' by the Holy Spirit, (Luke 1:34 - 35) a child who had no human father, who was God Himself and took on human likeness so we could begin to comprehend the love God has for His children.

The person of Jesus has always been, ALWAYS - Genesis 1 - 'In the beginning God....' John 1 'In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning'. Jesus the Creator, vs. 2, 'Through him all things were made....'

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us", John 1:14.

Jesus lived as a humble, holy man who served others. His Kingship will be hidden until the day He will come again as King of Kings, Lord of Lords and He will reign forever and ever!
I Timothy 6:15.

Why we might ask, did He need to do this - come to earth, die on a cross, rise again - why?
The answer is a simple truth, but hard to comprehend. He came to show God's love for His creation, His children. Many parents would say, 'I love my children and I'd die to save them from a living death' - hell. We could chose to die for them, but we can't 'save' them - we're not God, only He can do that by providing the forgiveness needed to be 'perfect' in God's eyes. Jesus paid the penalty for our sin, He died so we can live eternally.

You might say that the 'Christmas Story' started in the Garden of Eden. God orchestrated the Adam and Eve event (Genesis 3) so we could get a picture of His plan to redeem a lost people. Lost - that's us! There was never any doubt what Adam and Eve would do. If God had planned another possible outcome, the Lamb, Jesus, would not have been slain before the foundation of the world...Revelation 13:8....it was a done deal! The plan had been set in place. They had a perfect relationship with God prior to believing Satan who is 'the father of lies', John 8:44. Nothing has changed, check out the 'New Age' philosophies. Adam and Eve broke the relationship they had with God and that relationship needed to be restored. Jesus came to earth so we who believe will be restored and redeemed. Only God can do that. No amount of self-effort and trying to be 'good' will impress God in the least. Acts 4:12 - "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved". A very special baby was born that night, do you know Him personally? Is He your savior?

As we mingle with family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers during the holiday season, there are two topics of conversation that usually don't come up....sin and death. And yet, we all live in varying degrees of sin and we all die. 'The wages of sin is death', Romans 6:23, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord'. God is merciful and gracious, Romans 9:14, Ephesians 2:8 and He never expected us to figure it all out and make the 'right' decision - He did it for us - 'so no man can boast', Eph. 2:9, so His ultimate purpose will be revealed and His Son, Jesus Christ will be glorified. To God be the glory! Never do WE get the glory.

Thank you Lord for the GIFT of all gifts - Jesus. We ask that we take the glow that comes from believing and enter a new year with hope and the expectation of seeing your miracles, big and small, feeling your presence, and knowing your love.