Regardless of your political persuasion or religious beliefs, perhaps we could all agree that the world is not as it should be. From recent terrorist activity in Paris and California sparking fear to tragic accidents in my own community (and elsewhere, I’m certain) turning lives upside down in an instant this fall, we feel the weight of wrong.
The plight of foster children, the homeless and the hungry revealing need and brokenness. Divorce, neglect and abuse along with apathy, entitlement, pride, envy and self-centeredness tainting relationships and creating more conflict. To think on any of it for too long is too much.
Too much sadness. Too much pain. Too much need. Too much to bear.
We long for a world different than this. To be better, to be fixed, to be safe, to be fair, to be something more. The same yearnings though felt from the beginning when Adam and Eve took the fruit and heaven on earth was no more. From that time forward, the world and everything in it, including us, was sin stained.
“Long lay the world in sin and e’er pining… (O Holy Night)
Whether we know it or not, our groanings point to a need for a Redeemer. The need for someone to intervene and set us straight again. To save us from this hell!
“No more let sins and sorrows grow…” (Joy to the World)
“Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us; let us find our rest in thee… (Come, Thou Long-expected Jesus)
But in our longing and sometimes desperate cries we forget a Redeemer has come and He won! Even in these long “last days” He is sovereignly ruling over all. But the fact He is seated reminds us that though He is at work in our lives, He is at rest with His finished work accomplished perfectly for us.
I know it doesn’t feel this way. Quite the opposite in fact. And it may even make us mad because we feel as if He has stepped off His throne and let us loose to chaos and crisis.
But as stated in a previous post, also using Christmas lyrics, He came as one of us, for us. He came to do something about the sin and sorrow and what He did was what we needed most – what the world needs most now.
He became sin so we would know no sin. Whether we really believe it, the problem of sin is bigger than any tragedy, danger or despair. This is why in Mark 2 when a paralytic man is lowered through the roof for Jesus to heal, Jesus first responds by forgiving his sins before physically healing him. The man’s largest looming problem was not that he was lame, it was his sin he needed free of.
It is what we too need most. And the God who is upholding the world even now came down to dwell in it so he could heal us from sin and make us right again.
“A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.” (O Holy Night)
So we are left not without hope, but with great promise of another world – an eternal place of perfection and peace.
Until that time, remember…
“He rules the world with truth and grace…” (Joy to the World)
and His mercy is never-ending.
“God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Savior
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan’s power
When we were gone Astray…
“Fear not,” said the Angel
“Let nothing you afright
This day is born a Savior…
To free all those who trust in Him
From Satan’s power and might…Now to the Lord sing praises
All you within this place
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other, now embrace…O tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy…” (God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen)
May you know His unsurpassing comfort and be filled with immeasurable joy this Advent season as you remember who He is for us and who we are in Him.
