Sunday, December 26, 1993

John 1:1-5 and 14
	In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not...And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

	Let us mark the passage of another year, in this holiday season, ever realizing that each year brings us closer to that time of this world's recognition of the Lordship of Jesus Christ. There will be another physical return of Christ, a return filled with joy for those who know Him, and filled with terror and gnashing of teeth for those who deny Him. At that time, the babe in swaddling clothes will not be sought after by wisemen and shepherds, but rather seen in the truth of the Light which scatters the darkness and causes it to be banished, like the rays of the sun in the morning.
	The world, in general, despite the carols of the season, and the ceremonial telling of the story of the birth of Christ, has so polluted the precious reality of what God did accomplish on that day as He took upon Himself a body of flesh, and made Himself lower than the angels in order to bring humanity into a glorious relationship with Himself. Today, we are bombarded with the mixed messages of the birth of Christ, Santa Claus, flying reindeer, and all manner of various other tales spun in utter distraction from the resplendent truth of God incarnate.In these tales, the world is trying to ensure that God has been relegated to just another pleasant story for the season.
	This time of year is celebrated around the world with all manner of traditions, customs, rituals and with a variety of motives. There are some who feel that in re-inacting the birth of Christ in Bethlehem, some 2000 years ago, they can come into a greater knowledge of what God intended on that day. There are others who feel that good actions at this time of year will atone for their misdeeds during the preceding year, so they go out of their way to attempt any human kindness. There are still others who care little for the reason of Christmas, but rather see it as a time of intense activity, or a time to party, or a time to make and spend lots of money. Others find it a time of remembering the sentimental moments of their lives with loved ones now gone, or estranged, or just a long distance away. 
	Our attention, for so many years, has been focussed on the babe in swaddling clothes, laying in that manger. What should rather keep our attention, is our God, Who so gave Himself up in order to bring Himself into our lives.
	This should be the focus of our beings, now in Christ. You see, before Jesus Christ came to earth as the child whom we celebrate, God worked around the lives of His people. The Children of Israel were the chosen ones of God, and He kept them, even through the worst of earthly situations. He kept that remnant who looked to Him and trusted Him and relied upon Him. When He spoke, it was through the prophets and the law in manners which they could see, and touch, and hear. It wasn't that He loved them any less, but rather that they were chosen by God to display the utter need for the Christ to come. We see pictures throughout the Old Testament of men and women who were friends with and faithful to God, and how He kept them unto Himself. But, always in manners that were, simply put, based on human abilities and sensibilities.
	The reality of Christ is that God now, in Christ, no longer needs to use those physically manifested manners of dealing with humanity. The Word, the Son, the One who made us, and called us, has come into us, to dwell in our hearts. He took upon Himself the body of humanity and walked on this earth for a period of some 33 years, and dwelt among us. He took our sins and burdens from us by suffering the shame of crucifixion for us. Then, after the debt of our sinful nature was paid and left in that grave at Calvary, in His resurrection power, He chose to live in us. 
	This is the true essence of Christ our Lord and Savior. This is the message that should be proclaimed from the mountain-tops unto the lowest valley floor. Christ did not just come to earth for a short period, as a babe, and then leave us. He, the Word came to indwell us, by His Holy Spirit. We are now brought into a living relationship with the Word Who was and is and ever will be. This is not a seasonal situation, but the very life that we now daily live.
	In the Book of Revelation, we have the words of Christ attesting to this fact in Chapter 22 I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last...I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.     
 	As Christians, let us not be distracted by the ploys of this realm to be persuaded from the truth that Jesus Christ is the very Word of God indwelling us. We have the very God of Life, and Love and Essence, the Creator of all that is made in our lives, guiding and teaching and keeping us. It is no longer a matter of the occasional visits by God, as the world consigns to the birth of Christ. Rather, we are at this moment, in our worship, communing heart-to-heart and Spirit-to-spirit with our risen and glorified Jesus Christ, and the Father, by the Holy Spirit. This is an eternal relationship unto which we must give expression each and every moment of our lives.
	If one among us is not able to claim more than a knowledge of Jesus Christ as a babe in Bethlehem, then let us pray together for the Word of God to penetrate each heart, and reveal Himself in His glory. Let the Light that is Christ shine forth, not from this season, but from the lives of His own, to shed forth the glory of God in the living reality of His grace and truth.	 
	Seek after Him today, to earnestly know Him in His truth and grace. Use this time of year to seek after God to make known the Christ-child, not in swaddling clothing, but in the triumphant garb of the very Word of God, sent into our hearts to manifest Himself in all His eminence.
	
	And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.