For many, this is a wonderful time of the year. For others, it simply has no meaning. For a few, it is a time of sadness, loss, depression or other forms of hardship.
While we are celebrating the birth of our Savior and King, there are those who continue to question his very existence. They say, if he really lived, then why did he leave you to fight for yourself instead of becoming the conquering king that you speak of.
First of all, by historical records, he did exist. He was recorded about in diaries of those who were historians of the time.
The next question becomes that which the Christian faith is built upon. You see, the Israelites of his time were waiting for the conquering king. They wanted a human Messiah who would come and break the bondage they were under with the Romans. Throughout their history, they would say the Messiah is the one who would save them from their current dilemma. They didn’t look to see that what they needed was someone to save them from sin.
Sin is what really holds us in bondage. In accepting Satan’s way by sinning, we became enemies of God. We, like Satan, wanted to challenge God for his place. We, like Satan, were doomed in this confrontation because God is God and there is none like him. He created us and in doing so, we were his creation not his equal.
Think about it. If you made something and it came to life and then told you that it would take your place, what would you do? You would have to cut off communication, power, fuel and assistance and let it fend for itself. It would quickly run amok because it would have lost that which provided its life in the first place.
That is where we are today. We are fending for ourselves. We can live day in and day out but over time, we fall apart and die. At the end of it all, when our measure is taken, what will our lives have meant?
Before I met Jesus, my life was meaningless. I spent my time doing what I wanted when I wanted. Sometimes, I did good but only if it was something in my own interest. Even when I did something that could be viewed as altruistic, at the end of the day, it was in my interest even if it was just to make me feel happy and superior to those who didn’t spend their time like I did.
After I met Jesus, I learned about self-sacrifice. I learned that there was someone who had lived his entire life to serve others. He came to show us how to be a servant both to God and to other people. He showed us the meaning of true love which is in putting others above yourself. That kind of love can only come from God. We are so self-centered, our type of love comes from love of and for ourselves.
God, on the other hand, loved us so much he was willing to send his son to become one of us. He was born like we are and in the most humble of places. Born to a young couple who didn’t even have a real roof over their head at the time he was born.
When, in the fullness of time, that boy grew up and came to preach the good news of God’s salvation, he taught us to serve God and one another. His words were new and his concepts were ones that no one had ever heard before. It was a difficult concept to grasp even for his followers who witnessed his miracles firsthand. They, as other Israelites, were still looking for the conquering Messiah to save them from the situation of their life.
Jesus came to do that but at a much more fundamental level. Before saving the world from the catastrophe which we were creating, he had to provide a way for us to reconnect with our creator. Sin was in the way and he was the sacrifice that would allow our spiritual beings to be reborn and reconnect with God. Little did we understand that by his sacrifice and resurrection, he was the conquering King. Instead of an earthly ruler, he conquered sin and death for everyone.
Before doing so, he also taught us how to live like him. He knew that no human on their own could do so, otherwise why would God have to become a man and die for us? Still, he wanted us to see the real way so that when trials come upin our lives, we can look to his life and to his words and see our answers and the path we need to follow.
He is still the conquering Messiah and one day he will be returning for us to lay claim to the kingdom he has already won. At that time, he will certainly vanish the evil that exists here and a new heaven and a new earth will take the place of this fallen and sinful place. In his mercy, God is waiting and allowing as many as can be saved to be saved before the last day.
If you are a follower of his, you will be saved. If you are not, you will not be saved. There is no gray area, no fudging or hedging on this one. Jesus even states that in that day, there will be those who say, Lord, I did this and that in your name. He will say, depart, I never knew you. He can see into our hearts and know if we have really accepted his sacrifice.
So, at this time of year, when we celebrate his first coming as a baby in a manger, look forward in time and understand that his second coming could be at any time. Also, no one is promised their next breath, so your time on this earth is moment by moment. Our time of judgement is coming upon us, one way or the other.
Are you prepared to meet God? Have you been reborn in your spirit to know him? If not, you will be among those who never knew him. That is a fate that I don’t wish for anyone. Not even the worst of the worst. There can always been redemption as long as you are alive. You will still have to bow to man’s law if you have broken a law. God can forgive anything except for one thing. He can’t forgive you for not having accepted Jesus as your sacrifice and pardon. When you meet God, please do so with Jesus as your King having accepted his servant’s life and his sacrifice.
Isaiah 9:6-7
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders.
And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.