Sometimes I don't think the kids grasp the idea of the bag. The purpose is to bring random items, almost in an attempt to stump the pastor. But there have been a few times, such as yesterday, when they give me items that are obvious.
It's December, for the church year it's Advent. We're in a season of celebration, but how many realize the true meaning of it? I know America would be labeled as a Christian nation, but more and more I find that to be a lie. Each year we are farther and farther away from that label. Biblical literacy is at the lowest its ever been, and we're beginning to get away from calling Christmas by it's name. We now say "Happy Holidays" and they were called Holiday Trees this year.
There was a comic in the Plain Dealer a few years ago that asked why they couldn't say "Christmas", and the response was "Management doesn't want to offend anyone." And the reply came, "Well their sure doing a [heck] of a job on the Christians." Jesus is the whole point of this celebration. Over 2,000 years ago God became a man, born to a peasant family in a stable, and was then placed in a feeding trough. He came to save people who would mock Him, crucify Him, deny His deity, and claim He never existed. Jesus came to save a bunch of sinners and restore them to what God had created them to be. And how have we repaid Him? We don't even give Him His birthday celebration.
Without Jesus imagine where the world would be. It's messed up now, but imagine how bad it would be if He had never come. If He had never showed us that hope and life are possible. If He had never set the example that Christians are to live by and imitate. Psalm 53.3 says, "Every one of them has turned aside; together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one." Without Christ there is no hope.
Jesus is the reason we celebrate this season, and He is the reason we are able to celebrate this season. He came to bring hope and life to a lost and dying world. He came to bring light into the darkness. We keep pushing Him out and we wonder why things keep getting worse? Jesus told us to come to Him and that He would give us rest (Matthew 11.28). He said that He came to give us life (John 10.10). He said that He is the bread of life that gives life to the world (John 6). He said that He came to save the world and that all who believe in Him would have eternal life (John 3.14-17).
As long as we continue to push Christ away and keep Him at a distance, things will continue to get worse. Jesus came to show us what God is like, to show us that God is approachable. The Bible says that He shall be called Immanuel which means God with us, and we've refused to let Him be with us. Jesus came to be with us, and we refuse to let Him. He's a gentleman and doesn't force His way in, He does what we ask and leaves. And we have the world as it is, bad and getting worse. Jesus came to change that, but He won't if we don't want Him to.
Jesus came to give life to those who want it, to those who ask for it. To the one that receives Him, He gives eternal life. He transforms them and gives them new life that is focused on things that truly matter. That is the point of Christmas.
This will be the last posting for the year. I look forward to 2012, and seeing how God is found in the simple, ordinary things of life. Have a Merry Christmas, may you experience Christ a new way this season, and may it not be a solitary event, but part of the ongoing story of our salvation.
Peace be with you
No comments:
Post a Comment