Merry Christmas

The day after Christmas and every room of our house is out of order.  The mess doesn't bother me this time of year.  My home looks like we have just had a crazy party because that is exactly what is going on.  We decorate our home and cook the best food to celebrate this grand event.  We shower our loved ones with gifts, with those who are nice AND those who are naughty.  We sacrifice our time and our money, not because culture demands it but to show love.  Because lavish sacrificial giving to those who do not deserve it is exactly what Christmas is all about.

There are so many ways to loose focus this time of year.  Many things claiming to be Christmas but in reality having nothing at all to do with the greatest love story of all time.  Do you know what Christmas is really about?  Have you taken time this holiday season to contemplate the "why" of what you do?  Last night we decorated Gingerbread houses.  We had such a great time together.  Many of these types of cultural traditions really are so much fun and give us a chance to build family memories, but they are not the why of Christmas.  Christmas is a story of heroic rescue and ultimate victory.  It is the original story of good versus evil that inspires every other story.

When God created the world He could have made us all robotic in nature.  He understood that giving us free choice would mean that we would not always chose Him.  In this way, we understand what love is.  Love cannot be demanded, love must be a choice.  He created us to be in a relationship with Him and humanity WAS in perfect relationship with their Creator Father in the beginning.  Then everything changed.  Humankind chose disobedience instead of Truth.  The relationship was broken but God had a rescue plan from the very start.

Jesus's arrival happens in the most unlikely of places.  Once again showing us that God's ways are not our own.  His life fulfills every prophecy.  Once again showing us that God's promises are trustworthy and faithful.  Jesus, God wrapped in our humanity, came not as royalty but to a family of no cultural significance.  He was born in a dark cave, surrounded by smelly animals, and celebrated by just poor shepherds.  A miraculous display of angels and heavenly lights that only a few noticed. The Saviour of the world, the Son of God, The Word in the flesh arrived to earth Christmas night and most of the world slept.

He came to live among us.  He walked this life fully man and fully God.  He came to suffer.  He came to die.  He came to conquer death and give us life.  He came to be our rescue plan.

Every action has a reaction.  Every evil has a consequence.  The greatest consequence of all is our separation from God.  Because He is Holy, evil cannot stand in His presence without being consumed.  And so Jesus came.  He came to stand in the gap for us.  He came to provide a way to restore our relationship with God and to give us a full life, an eternal life.

Although Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Christ, the reason it is so significant is due to what we celebrate in a few months.  At one of the ugliest moments in human history, Jesus willingly becomes our ultimate sacrifice.  I am completely overwhelmed by His incredible love.  He took on ALL the sin of the world, He willingly laid down His life, He accepted being separated from God because He IS LOVE.  But the story didn't stop there because three days later Jesus conquered death.  And then because of His great, great love He didn't leave us alone to walk our days on the earth.  The Holy Spirit came upon the followers of Jesus to empower and to send us out and to bring healing.

And so we celebrate God come to earth as a baby.  We celebrate God in the flesh who was born to die for us.  We celebrate the promise of His return... and this time not as a baby in a manger, but as a mighty warrior King.  We have such a good Father and so much to celebrate.  Don't let another Christmas pass without exploring this story for yourself.  Much love to all of you.  Merry Christmas!!!

For all those who live in the shadow of death
A glorious light has dawned
For all those who stumble in the darkness
Behold your light has come

Immanuel our God is with us
And if God is with us who could stand against us
Our God is with us
Immanuel

So what will be Your answer? Will You hear the call?
Of Him who did not spare His son but gave Him for us all
On earth there is no power there is no depth or height
That could ever separate us from the love of God in Christ 

~ Michael Card