Who is in the manger?

Years ago, as I wandered through the magnificence of the British Museum, I discovered an area of antiquities from faraway cultures of the past.  Most of the items were small rock-like images, dull and ravaged by centuries of being buried, some almost cartoon-like in their appearances.

As I looked at these ancient crumbling souvenirs, I realized that these were objects of worship.  These were the idols people made and chose to worship, instead of the LORD God, the Creator. 

And still in our day and time, it is incredible the absurd things we replace for God.  Even the fleeting objects and loves that push God to the margins or totally out of the picture.

We all worship.  And if we do not worship God, a lesser god will take His rightful place.  Even the ridiculous.

Somehow on the day after Christmas last year, I noticed that Jesus was replaced in the manger. 

 

And we found baby Jesus face down on a bookshelf.

 

Amusing for just a moment, but then the reality hit me.  One thing is not like the others.  Our worship of God Almighty is so easily replaced by other loves, desires, even the warm and fuzzy, even when we barely recognize we have switched our focus.  But what we worship changes us.  The object of our worship is not interchangeable with the same journey nor outcome nor strength.  

There is a significant difference there.  A carved rock of our own doing or the Creator of the Universe.

"You are what you love," says James K. Smith in his book by that same title.  Our lives exhibit what our hearts are set on. 

We were wired to worship.  God created us that way.  We don't usually view our loves nowadays as "idols," but they rule our souls. Choose carefully what you love and long for.  Our loves --even misplaced ones --change the trajectory of our lives.

Jesus is not a Christmas decoration, observant for a few convenient weeks and then stored away until next year's festivities warrant His appearance.  Don't leave Him on a shelf or buried in the attic.

What is in our mangers?  Are we really worshiping, delighting in, and celebrating the coming of Jesus?  Or family get-togethers?  Or what we will give....or get?  The time off work? The music?  The traditions?  Even what someone else has and we do not?

Advent is not anticipating what is coming someday.   But recognizing what is already.  The angel chorus sang, "He is here!"   Right now.  Right here.  "I am with you."

O Come Let Us Adore Him.

And watch the transformation His Presence makes in our hearts the other 364 days of the year.