Merry Christmas

God created the world, the whole world, the whole universe, from the tiniest cell to the largest star, God created and holds it all together.
God created man and woman, to live together in harmony with eachother and with Him. At the start of this creation, everything was great, God and man lived in perfect harmony in Eden. The Bible doesn't tell us how long for, but i like thinking it was a decent while. Then, man disobeyed God, man did the only (the only) thing that God told him not to. From then onward a wedge was driven between man and God.
But for a few notable exceptions man lived in the image of Adam for centuries...lost, hopeless, far from God, in total rebellion. This is the cause of what we feel in our hearts today...the emptiness, the unfulfillment, the lack of worth and of purpose. Because God created us to live in harmony with Him, and we're not.
God is the answer to these feelings, to this hopelessness.
Around 2000 years ago, around this time of year, God became man, Jesus of Nazareth. This Jesus, fully man and fully God, is everything we can never be. Because of our rebellion against God, we are under His wrath, we deserve the punishment of hell, there is no way around that. You can not be 'good enough' to get into Heaven. The Bible says that ALL have fallen short of the glory of God. So what of this Jesus? He lived a perfect, sinless life. He was tempted, He was sad, He loved His close friends dearly. Just like you and me but Jesus, that is to say, God, died a cruel death. Crucified for being a criminal. Surely this can't have been God's plan, surely this was God's council frustrated?
Not at all.
This was the plan all along. God din't have to change anything because of the cross, as amazing and mind blowing as it is, the cross was the plan all along. Jesus died to glorify God. To bring glory to a name that had been trodden through the mud by those meant to upkeep it. Jesus died, to restore the relationship that was lost in Eden. He died, instead of you and me. He was punished for you and me.
Three days later, the tomb was empty. Jesus had risen. Jesus had defeated death. All His claims to be God are true! This man can defeat death, surely this man is the Son of God! Jesus of Nazareth, crucified and resurrected.
Now, because of Jesus dieing instead of you and me, we can have that relationship that Adam and Eve enjoyed before it all went so wrong. Jesus has paid the penalty for all the things we do that gets in the way of us and God. He is our fulfilment, our forgiveness. He is our savior, our Lord and King. He knows me better than i know myself. My King Jesus. My Lord. He in the only way.
Because Jesus died, now we can live the way we were created to live, hidden in Jesus. No more empty longing, no more wondering at what life is really about, no more lack of self worth. There is the cross of Jesus Christ, thats where it all begins, thats where love and sorrow, life and death meet. That is my hope for the future. Jesus Christ, who was, and is, and is to come.

This is the real meaning of Christmas. The baby who grew up, the baby who is God. The baby who lives today. Lord Jesus, there is none like you, your name echoes through eternity. Lord, i love you, and i want my life to reflect you. I want to get out there, to do what you would have me do. Help me Jesus to glorify you in everything. Thank you Jesus that you are love, that you lived and died and lived again. hallelujah!