Christmas - What Love!

As we approach another Christmas, a time for celebrating the coming of our Savior, my thoughts and study have led me to ponder the relationship between God the Father and His Son, Jesus.

Two of my nephews became first time fathers in the last few months. Tom had a son and David had a daughter. It’s obvious they are crazy about these precious children, so much so that I am confident they would give their lives for them. My grand-niece and -nephew’s fathers have hopes and dreams for the success, health, fulfillment, goodness, and wholeness of their kids.

Likewise, as I read scripture and the account of the birth of Jesus Christ,I see no different delight in the Father at the human birth of His one and only Son. However, God the Father’s purpose in sending Jesus to become a baby and then a man, was for Jesus to ultimately take on the sin, sorrow, failings, brokenness and depravity of humankind; to allow the sinless Son of God to experience the disgusting thoughts and acts (yours and mine) of humankind, all while being separated from His Father on the cross of Calvary. I wondered how a loving Father could intentionally plan and allow the torturing of his Son’s body and the pollution of his human mind and soul during those hours on the cross.

The Scripture is resplendent with answers. Love allowed it. The love of a Father for the world, His creation. John 3:16-17 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave is one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through him. “
In John 17, we see the love of the Father for His Son. Jesus had confidence in His Father’s love as he prays to His Father in verse 26, “I made known to them your name, and I will make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them and I in them.” There was never any question in the mind of Christ about the Father’s love for Him, nor His purpose in being born into the world he himself created.

In John 12:23 and 27, Jesus said as he was preparing to be crucified, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified…Now my heart is troubled and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour?’ No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!”
I can imagine a conversation after the Fall of Adam and Eve between the persons of the Godhead.

“We want a relationship with our creation, to know them, to love them; for them to know and love us. They need our strength and wisdom to navigate life. We want them to know the love that we have for one another; to experience the joy of having us at the forefront of their hearts, minds, plans and decisions. But their disobedience in the Garden proved their propensity to do things their own way; it revealed the weak wills of our creation. Now their sin has eternally separated them from us. Only a perfect sacrifice for that sin will provide an unbroken relationship with us. The sin must be atoned for. However, being sinful, they cannot atone for sin themselves. Only pure sinlessness and undiluted holiness can take it on. No amount of human self-effort will do it. None of their self-loathing or continual confessions will solve this problem. Not even good works or selfless living can accomplish what only holiness can. Who is worthy of carrying the burden of sin for the entire world, to free mankind from eternal separation from us? We alone are holy. We alone are worthy. We alone are God. One of us must make atonement and take the punishment they deserve.’ Willingly the Son offered: ‘I’ll go. I’ll do it. I can’t bear the thought of them dying in their sin and being separated from us for eternity. I’ll go. Send me, Father. Send me.’”

As inventive as that scenario might be (compared to how it must have happened), it shows our utter helplessness to get right with God on our own.

Christmas is about a heavenly plan put into action.
First His birth.
Then His life.
Next His death.
Then His resurrection.
God became man.
Man became accepted.
God was glorified.
Man was freed.

At this season, I pray our focus will remain on the truth that Christmas is about redemption, sacrifice, hope, eternity, and most of all, love – love between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and their love for us - to God be the glory.
Merry Christmas!

Read
Revelation 5:1-7
1 Samuel 12:22
Luke 2
Isaiah 53
Colossians 2:21-22

Reflect
Do I celebrate the gift of Jesus in this Christmas season?
If not, what can I do to change that personally and in my family?
Do my children (or grandchildren) know the Christmas story or is it all about getting gifts?
Am I living in gratitude for Jesus’ gift of salvation?
Do others know that Christmas is my home is about the gift of Jesus to the world?

Respond
Father, how grateful I am that you loved us so much that you allowed your Son to be born a God-man to take on the sins of the world. I celebrate you this season and always, as I remember and proclaim the love I have for you, that you first had for your Son. I accept the sacrifice of Jesus on my behalf and desire to live a life that will glorify you always. By the strength that Jesus offers, Amen.

Is God Sovereign over Disasters

The small country of Haiti has suffered unimaginable losses in the last couple of years. First, the tsunami that killed thousands and destroyed homes and businesses, leaving hundreds of children orphaned. Then, just as it seems that relief efforts had eased their burdens somewhat, we learned that they are now plagued by cholera. Cholera! The worldwide epidemic that killed many thousands of people around the world in the early 1800’s.

Upon hearing this, reflections of God’s sovereignty in the midst of tragedy came once again to the forefront of my heart. If God is good (which he is), and if he controls all things (which he does), then how can these awful things keep happening to the Haitians? The answer concerns all disasters, whether a roof destroyed by a falling tree or an earthquake, tornado, the devastation of a hurricane or others.

Psalm 135:6 says, “The Lord does whatever pleases Him.” Does it please Him to allow the spread of cholera on an already devastated nation? Ezekiel 18:32 reads, “For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!”

So, if God takes no pleasure in the death of anyone, then what good can come from a tragedy such as Haiti is experiencing? In Haiti ’s recovery we have witnessed the influx of people from all over the world to provide relief. This is a country once fiercely closed to outside influences. Humanitarian agencies and Christian organizations and individuals have offered comforting arms of love to the Haitians, along with practical help. Because of the tsunami the country is now open to experience the love of God through other nations and people. Untold numbers have turned and are turning from their religious practices of Voodoo[1] to the worship of a God who sent His only Son, Jesus to carry mankind’s sins to the cross (read of one organization’s story of conversions at http://revivalmedia.org/2010/04/30/many-haitians-turning-to-christ-1st-may-2010/)

From this fact alone, I am comforted that nothing is purposeless or wasted with God. God knows the human heart and His passion for all to come to repentance. He states in Lamentations 3:31-33, “For men are not cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For He does not willingly bring grief to the children of men.” Romans 8:28-29 bears this out, “For all things work together for the good of those who love God, who have been called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son…” The “conforming” Paul mentions, happens most often as a result of pain. We all wish for a life of no pain, but the result would be that we would be more less likely to know our need of Him, and ultimately be less conformed to the image of Jesus.

There is a clear argument through scripture that God is not weak when tragedy transpires. He is not been trumped by the devil, or cries, “Oh no!” when the tragedy strikes. He allows and causes what John Piper describes as “an occasion for God to rejoice in the demonstration of his justice and his power and the infinite worth of his glory (see also Romans 9:22-23)”[2]

All of our heavenly Father’s acts, even his allowing a tsunami and cholera, is a demonstration of his justice in proving the worth of his glory. eHWho are we to judge God? We are mere man and He is the eternal sovereign, immutable, omniscient, holy and good Father. His love and motives cannot be questioned.

He knows every heart. He alone knows what it will take to draw others into his kingdom. He knows the power of His Spirit to turn hearts to himself with the ultimate goal of our salvation for His glory. He lovingly provides his grace to carry us through any sorrow; that is His gift when life is shaken to its core. Grace is provided freely through Jesus for all who would receive it. We choose whether to curse God or accept His grace like one who peacefully sits in His lap as a little child.

It would takes years of the study of scripture and the writings of godly men like John Piper to not only understand, but write about the multi-faceted character of God and the ideology of His workings; and to grasp how the interrelation of the role of Satan and the facts of one’s own responsibility fit into the pleasure and purposes of God in all He does. This blog simply expresses my heart and my understanding of one miniscule aspect of the character and flawless determinations of God regarding disasters.

Piper sums up his submission to the purposes and sovereignty of God when, following the death of his mother in a freak car accident where his mother was nearly decapitated, he wrote, “I never doubted that God was sovereign over this accident and that God was good. I do not need to explain everything. That he reigns and that he loves is enough for now.”[3]

And that is enough for me this side of heaven. I pray it is enough for you.


Prayer

Holy Father, you are Lord of all. No matter what happens in my life, I know I can count on your love at the core. Help me to have faith by your grace, when tragedy strikes in my life. Carry me, soothe me, strengthen me. For those in Haiti , I pray they would know who you are, and that your love is more powerful than a tsunami, disease, or sorrow. Comfort them, I pray. Amen.



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[1] Countries and Their Cultures. Http://www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Haiti.html

[2] Piper, John. The Pleasure of God, Sisters, OR, Multnomah Publishers, 2000, p. 73

[3] Ibid, p.75.