Why was this infant born into this world? Why did God single out a teenage virgin and have her conceive by way of the Holy Spirit a child who would be human and yet God at the same time? Why did this infant grow up to develop a fairly sizable following through the performing of miracles and the greatest teachings ever uttered in all of human history? Why did He say the things He said? Why did He do the things He did? Why would He endure physical, emotional and probably spiritual suffering that is beyond all comprehension? Why would he voluntarily take upon Himself the penalty of death for the sins of all mankind? Why in one fell swoop would He defeat the power of sin, death and Satan all in one weekend? Why? Why? Why?
I enjoy all the "stuff" of Christmas. My wife does a real nice job decorating the house making it look nice and festive. Who doesn't enjoy Christmas lights? There is a different feeling in the air. Is it from childhood Christmases that were magical and highly enjoyable? And who wouldn't like the food! From Thanksgiving to the New Year there is a feastivus for the rest of us. And then the depression and guilt of January when droves find their way to their local gyms. Is the feeling of this time of year from the hope that life could somehow be better than it usually is? Is it the hope that family members would get their acts together and that we would actually one day become a family in it's best sense? Is it the hope that someday, one day, the problems, the trials, the hurts will all end?
I've been reading a book by Martyn Lloyd Jones on John 14 lately. I was reading last night about how many people see the Gospel message as a means to make our world a better place to live in. And how people become disappointed when life doesn't get better and then question the authenticity of the Gospel because somehow God hasn't made all that is wrong right. Mr. Jones wrote about how the social gospel; the one that people use to think they can have more riches, more stuff, a better life here on this earth and peaceful societies where wars never occur and everyone gets along is not the message of the Gospel but is a perversion of that message. Think about it. Where is there any Scripture that states that if we believe in Christ and become great Christians that our lives in the here and now and the world around us will be repaired of all the damages that sin has brought into our world? We still dwell in flesh that wants to and does sin. We still dwell in a fallen corrupted world where it's inhabitants largely deny the existence of God and most certainly reject the Christ of the Gospels. How could we become so deluded as to think it's all going to get better when Satan has a stronger grip of this world and it's people than God does?
I've been criticized for some of my sermons being too "heavy". That people would rather hear about the love of God and how God can make them feel better about themselves and that you should leave out the more unsavory aspects of the Gospel message such as judgment, repentance, sin and especially hell.
Why? Why? Why?
Christmas is about a bit more than the tinsel, Santa Claus, cookies, presents, family gathering together, the hopes and dreams yet realized; it is about Jesus Christ coming into this world as that infant in order to do one thing and one thing alone. To save sinners.
Not to make the world a better place. Sorry if that ruins your holiday spirit but search the Scriptures and see if it's not true. Jesus' teachings, miracles, prayers, sweating drops of blood in anguish, giving up His spirit on that cross when it was all finished is all about one thing only. All of us are sinners. All of us have defied God. All of us are deserving of the penalty of death. But He came into the world to save us from this penalty and from all that sin does to us. And in doing so He also stated that He was going to return to take us out of here and with Him for eternity (John 14:3).
The better place won't be here. It will be there with Him and His Father in eternity. It is on the other side of the veil. He promised He will return to take us with Him.
That day will be the Christmas of all Christmases. These other ones are but a glimpse of what will come. We all long for something better because we all know this can't be it. The feeling of the season I believe is really the hopeful expectation of His return where all will be fulfilled. Where Christmas and it's hope will be a non-stop, never-ending reality.
It will literally be the gift that keeps on giving and giving and giving and...
This is why.
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