Cancelled!

 

 

My 88 year old mother-in-law is staying with us to keep her safe during the covid surge.  A few days ago, she emerged from her room with the announcement that Europe has cancelled Christmas.  The truth was that many countries had cancelled their Christmas markets and imposed other restrictions.

We have lived through a year of many adjustments, inconveniences, hardships, dire straits, and cancellations.  But Christmas is not that which can be just called off.  Christmas is not an event.  

Our celebration of the birth of Jesus may look very different this year.  And in some ways, it may be a truer celebration with our manmade traditions removed.  Concerts are cancelled, Christmas Eve services moved online, Santa and the reindeer on lockdown, family gatherings either postponed or narrowed to a essential few, travel limited, and the annual menu altered.

Traditions may be falling off the tree this year, but in turn, revealing what Christmas is really all about:  the love of God for each and every one of us, a gift not earned.  God does not keep a list of who is naughty or nice.  God forgives.  God loves.  God redeems.  God came to earth to give His life to save us from our own brokenness.  It is the gospel, the ultimate good news, of which everyone of us needs.

"And He shall reign for ever and ever."   Revelation 11. 15

That is the message of Christmas. Our hope in Christ is not wishful thinking for the future, but firmly established throughout history, revealed in God's Word cover to cover,  and woven seamlessly in the now.  

"Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign.  Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Emmanuel," wrote the prophet Isaiah 800 years before the birth of Christ.  (Isaiah 7. 14)

That prophecy was fulfilled and acknowledged in the book of Matthew. "She will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."  All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:  "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and His name shall be called Emmanuel," which means, God with us. (Matthew 1. 21-23)

Christmas is not cancelled after all.   Emmanuel, God with us.  God is still with us. 

No matter what.

 

And He is before all things,

and in Him

all things hold together.

           Colossians 1. 17 

 

Oh come, let us adore Him!