God invaded the earth in the form of a baby boy.
A most unlikely, and highly unbelievable event took place some 2000 years ago.
A virgin gave birth to God incarnate.
People have a hard time believing it today. Oh, sure, lots of folks believe in Christmas. They believe in the Eastern Star, the Manger Scene (complete with animals, Magi, shepherds, Mary and Joseph, and Jesus), gifts, carols, and a paid holiday. Yes, many believe in Christmas.
But imagine what it was like that first Christmas.
There were no ribbons and bows, no special television programming, and no ham dinners. (Definitely not!)
And how did they make it through the season without watching the movie, “It’s A Wonderful Life”?
That first Christmas came and went without a lot of fanfare. Yes, the Angels rejoiced (with all of Heaven joining in), the shepherds were amazed, and Mary didn’t know what to say.
But the people who knew of the prophecies knew nothing of God’s timing; nor did they recognize His ways. They assumed their way was His way. But their expectations didn’t match God’s manifestation.
So they missed the visitation of God.
Yes, a few had an inkling of what God was up to. Anna, the Prophetess. Simeon, the righteous and devout man who was “eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel” (Luke 2:25).
God performed the greatest miracle of all time, and it slipped by without much appreciation, with hardly any notice.
God came to earth, invaded the earth, and was basically ignored.
Or misunderstood.
Or both.
“He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.” (John 1:11 NLT)
This Christmas, what are you looking for? Who is your focus? It doesn’t matter how well you know the story, the scriptures, or feel the spirit of giving.
Where is your heart? Where is your faith?
Love, in the form of a baby, was given to mankind all those years ago. Celebrating the birth of God incarnate, Emmanuel, God with us, is a wonderful thing to do. But if that’s all you do, you’ve missed the whole story of Christmas. Jesus didn’t come because we needed something or someone to celebrate. He didn’t come so we could all sing Christmas carols, drink hot chocolate, and spend time kissing our loved one under the mistletoe.
He came because mankind was (and is) hopelessly, eternally, separated from God Almighty.
Everyone. No exception. Including you and I.
But He came to man, He lived with man, He died in place of man, and He was resurrected as God’s guarantee of new life for all who believe.
Believe.
And receive.
“But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn – not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.” (John 1:12-13 NLT)
Christmas is about new life. We may not understand how it happens; for how does one comprehend a miracle?
Earlier, I used the word “invaded”. Though I believe, in one sense, that’s what happened, I also know God doesn’t force Himself into anyone’s life. Even Mary had a choice; and she chose to receive from God the seed of new life.
And like Mary, we too can say to the Lord, “Let it be to me according to Your word.” (Luke 1:38)
Let Christmas 2014 be your season of new life. Acknowledge your need for Him, believe He came for you, to become the substitute for your selfish, sinful ways, and receive Him as your Lord and Savior.
You’ll discover the Angels of Heaven, again, singing and rejoicing over someone’s new life.
Yours.
“…there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10 ESV)
Jan Grace 