God's Journey to Us

I was reminded this week, just a few days before Christmas, of how easily I can begin to focus on the things I feel will make or break our Christmas Day. As a parent of five children, I often stress over purchasing the perfect gifts for my kids to make sure their day is special and enjoyable. I found myself thinking of the Grinch and how he tried to “steal” Christmas, only to be puzzled when removing the gifts didn’t change the outcome of the day.

I asked one of my children a simple question: “Would Christmas be okay if you didn’t get any gifts this year?” Their puzzled look and hesitant “yes” revealed just how much we associate Christmas with presents and decorations—and how challenging it can be to imagine the day without them.

Last week, Pastor Eric preached from Isaiah 9, where the people are described as walking in darkness—even deep darkness—yet a light dawns. The imagery shifts to a people once enslaved and heavily burdened, only to have those burdens broken, as at the defeat of Midian. What was the force that broke through the darkness? A child. God would send His Son as a baby who would overcome the darkness.

The light revealed in that baby was small, like the dawning of the sun, gradually growing brighter as it was fully revealed in the life of Christ. He who began as a baby in a manger would soon become the Savior on the cross. The light was small in Bethlehem, but mighty when Jesus rose from the dead.

Regardless of the gifts given or received, our reason to rejoice has not been diminished or changed. We can easily get caught up in what the world considers important during this time of year, but we must be disciplined to pause and remember the most impactful journey ever taken. As last week’s sermon reminded us, “Advent is not our journey to God, but God’s journey to us.” Joy to the world, the Lord is come!