Pastor Chuck’s 2014 Christmas Countdown Blog #3 – I love that when we see Jesus, we see what God is really like – and it’s all about love! It happened on a silent night - Two thousand years ago; God sent to us His only Son because He loved us so. The greatest story ever told is not of shopping malls; It's how God's Son was born on earth to love and save us all. In the Gospel of John, we get the “back story” of Christmas and why Jesus came to earth Before anything else existed, there was Christ, with God. He has always been alive and is himself God. He created everything there is—nothing exists that he didn’t make. Eternal life is in him, and this life gives light to all mankind . . . But although he made the world, the world didn’t recognize him when he came. Even in his own land and among his own people, the Jews, he was not accepted. Only a few would welcome and receive him. But to all who received him, he gave the right to become children of God. All they needed to do was to trust him to save them. All those who believe this are reborn!—not a physical rebirth resulting from human passion or plan—but from the will of God. And Christ became a human being and lived here on earth among us and was full of loving forgiveness and truth. And some of us have seen his glory —the glory of the only Son of the heavenly Father! . . . No one has ever actually seen God, but, of course, his only Son has, for he is the companion of the Father and has explained him . . . For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so that anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 1:1-4, 9-14, 18, 3:16 – LB) According to John, Jesus came to show us what God is like, to show us how much God loves and to show us that we can become His children. This is what Christmas is all about – having a relationship with God. And it’s not just for everyone – IT’S FOR YOU! As you consider that coming of Christ at Christmas, read these insightful words from Max Lucado.
Want to know the coolest thing about his coming? Not that the One who played marbles with the stars gave it up to play marbles with marbles. Or that the One who hung the galaxies gave it up to hang doorjambs to the displeasure of a cranky client who wanted everything yesterday but couldn't pay for anything until tomorrow. Not that he, in an instant, went from needing nothing to needing air, food, a tub of hot water and salts for his tired feet, and, more than anything, needing somebody--anybody--who was more concerned about where he would spend eternity than where he would spend Friday's paycheck. Not that he kept his cool while the dozen best friends he ever had felt the heat and got out of the kitchen. Or that he gave no command to the angels who begged, "Just give the nod, Lord. One word and these demons will be deviled eggs." Not that he refused to defend himself when blamed for every slut and sailor since Adam. Or that he stood silent as a million guilty verdicts echoed in the tribunal of heaven and the giver of light was left in the chill of a sinner's night. Not even that after three days in a dark hole he stepped into the Easter sunrise with a smile and a swagger and a question for lowly Lucifer--"Is that your best punch?" That was cool, incredibly cool. But want to know the coolest thing about the One who gave up the crown of heaven for a crown of thorns? He did it for you. Just for you. [Max Lucado, He Chose the Nails] There are people all over the world who feel very much alone at Christmas. They feel forgotten, overlooked, and lost. There are those who have never gotten a kind word from anyone they ever cared about. It is tempting for them to conclude that they don't matter. But if you understand the true story of Christmas, you understand that you matter greatly to God. God cared so much for you . . . that He took human form to reach out to you and to save you from destruction. There are people who feel that they have ignored God for so long, they have done so many things that God disapproves of, there is so much water under the bridge that any real hope for a relationship with God is foolish. The story of Christmas however points out to what great lengths God will go to reach those He loves. Jesus died for the very things that haunt our lives. He went to the cross to take care of the foolishness of our past. He became a man so we would understand that His arms were open to us.
Christmas is an invitation. It is an invitation from God to come home. It is God's declaration of unfathomable love. He's done everything. All that is left is for you to receive the gift. It's up to you to turn and run to His embrace. It is up to you to say, "Yes, I will place my life and my confidence for eternity in the hands of the Lord Jesus." Have you ever done this? If not, I encourage you to do so now. Trust the one who died for you. Trust Him to get you to Heaven. Trust Him to forgive you as He promised. Trust Him for your daily life. Follow His directions. Trust Him in the hard times and the good. And when you dare to trust Him, you will not only find Him fully trustworthy . . . . you will also discover the real reason to celebrate Christmas. And I like that!