This month as we drive through the streets and walk the malls, we will see the sights, and hear the sounds of Christmas. Somewhere between the Santa Claus and the reindeer we will find a babe in a manger. We look at the nativity scene and see God's love and understand that the Christ-Child is the hope of mankind. During the holiday season we can deal with a baby in a manger, because there aren't any demands from the Christ- Child which would muddle our lives. But when we view the baby as God among us, our way of thinking is changed. Instead of the holiday celebrations, we start to consider our eternal destiny.
In the city surrounded by man-made objects, we become impressed with ourselves. We think we can take care of anything, including our salvation. A starry night away from the city lights is the best way to clear our thinking. The celestial display reminds us of the Creator-God. Underneath the night sky we start to feel small and realize our dependence on God. We understand that we can never reach up to God; our only hope is that He will reach down to us.
When we understand the significance of Christ birth, who He was and why He came, the Virgin Birth is the only possible explanation. Occasionally a wanna-be scholar will claim the word virgin in the Greek can mean young maiden, but the same sage fails to mention that the Greek in Matthew makes it's clear the only human involved in Christ's birth was Mary.
The Bethlehem manger wasn't a stop gap measure, God is still on the throne. In the first chapter of I Peter we read that the plan of Christ’s birth was laid before the foundation of the world. (But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you I Peter 1:19-20 KJV) Bit by bit, and piece by piece we see God’s plan unfold. Through out the Old Testament we see the royal thread of the coming Messiah. We see the perfect God achieving His plan with imperfect people.
At the time of the Messiah's birth, it had been 400 years since there had been a Word of the Lord to Israel. During those four hundred years God was preparing not only Israel, but the entire world. The Greek language was established as a world wide language, it would become the language of the majority of the New Testament. The Pax of Roman would bring stabilization to world events and the Romans would build their roads connecting most of the empire. The world was now prepared to hear the Gospel. The angels watched in awe as Christ descended into Mary's womb, now was the time. The Word became flesh, the invisible became visible.
Operation Bethlehem was the start of the final phase of God's plan. A project that is getting closer to fulfillment every day, Calvary nailed down the victory. Satan's fate is now finalized. God prepared the world for the Gospel; he is now preparing the Universe for Christ's reign. The babe is now King of Kings and Lord of Lords; it is he we must answer to. One day everything will be as it should be. Every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. We're not there yet, but one day by God's grace we will be. This Christmas season let the words of Hark the Herald Angels Sing give Christmas a deeper meaning.
