Tuesday,
December 25, 2018
As
I sat here thinking about what Christmas morning will be like, I know it is
different. A lot different than when the
kids were younger – it will be quieter.
And begin much later in the morning.
The excitement is much less – I miss that. Except I’m still so very excited. Jesus is coming! Jesus is coming! And today He’s knocking at our door. (3:20).
I sat here pondering about the “reason” for this season. We just completed the “Advent Season” - Advent is Latin for “Coming”. We just observed a time of expectant waiting
and preparation for the coming of the Nativity of Jesus. But we are also celebrating the Second Coming
of Jesus. Yet, are we truly
prepared?
“Sometimes
we marginalize Christ, even on this day as we celebrate His birth. Seeing Him as a helpless baby, we leave Him
in the manger instead of worshiping Him as Lord of Lords and King of kings.”
(iworship Bible)
I want to share something I found here
Christmas is the perfect time to open our
hearts when Christ "stands at the door and knocks"–as he promises to
come into the life of anyone who opens the door to him!
The Christmas holidays remind me of that
time when God "knocked on the door" of his only Son to give him a
unique mission to come to earth. The mission would begin in a common stable, in
a small country under the domination of the Roman Empire. There would be no
great national celebration of the birth of King Jesus. In fact, for the first
30 of his 33 years on earth, people in the marketplace weren't even aware they
were rubbing shoulders with the Creator of the universe!
Jesus didn't go on a campaign trail to
secure this mission. He didn't raise his hand wildly, saying "Pick me,
pick me!" He knew from the very beginning that his mission would be coming
to earth as a baby boy, born to a virgin. During his time on earth there would
be humiliation, unbelief, opposition, and finally, crucifixion. But he came. He
came because his Father opened the door of opportunity for him to save the
world. "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but in order that the world might be saved through him." (John 3:17).
The incarnation—God the Son taking on
humanity—would not be a lucrative career move for Jesus. It was not for
something bigger and better. It actually was a huge step down to the role of a
humble man. In fact, the Bible says that though he was in the form of God, he
made himself nothing, "taking the form of a servant, being born in the
likeness of men" (Philippians 2:6-7).
When Jesus Christ opened the door to
receive his Father's plan, he literally changed the course of history. Over
time, his coming would be used to separate history in two—BC ("Before
Christ") and AD ("Anno domini"—in the year of our Lord). That's
because of the amazing nature of his mission. He didn't come "to be served
but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45),
making it possible for sinner like us to be forgiven of our sins and to receive
eternal life from God!
Knowing that "the wages of sin is
death" (Romans 6:23), Jesus Christ completed his mission by taking the
punishment for our sins with his own life. God "did not
spare his own Son but gave him up for us all" (Romans 8:32). Jesus
"bore our sins in his body on the tree....the righteous for the
unrighteous, that he might bring us to God" (1 Peter 2:24; 3:18). Once
justice had been done, God could forgive us so that "whoever believes in
him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
From his own testimony, Jesus declared his
mission by saying, "The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me....He has sent
me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives"
(Isaiah 61:1). Jesus's birth, life, death, resurrection, and return to heaven
completed his mission (1 Corinthians 15:1-8). Since then he has set free
countless prisoners of sin who otherwise would face eternal judgment. He has
brought spiritual sight to men and women who were blindly headed for eternal
destruction. His "mission accomplished" has released millions from
the oppression of sin and its consequences.
Just as God knocked on the door of Christ's
heart, now Christ stands at the door and knocks on every human heart. His arms
are loaded with packages that he has carefully prepared to deliver to anyone
who opens the door. Christ says, "I stand at the door and knock. If anyone
hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in" (Revelation 3:20).
