The holidays are a very special time of the year. All throughout our society it seems like
everyone is glowing. Stores are packed with happy shoppers, looking for great
deals for their loved ones. Meanwhile, kids seem to be on cloud 9 as they
eagerly await what’s lying underneath the Christmas tree.
Everyone is enjoying all of the wonderful holiday delights, especially
all of the pies, cookies and candies. Additionally, people are rushing here and
there to various family gatherings, holiday celebrations and sometimes even
church programs. It is during this time of year that most of us are able to see
those very special people whom for one reason or another we are not able to
spend much time with during the rest of the year. O the bliss of the holidays!
Unfortunately for some of us, the holidays are not a time of bliss,
rather they are a very difficult time as we remember and miss loved ones who
have passed away, or those who honor us by serving our country and are not able
to come home. Likewise this can be a very difficult time for people who have
gone through a family crisis which has divided the family. This is the case for myself as I recently
found out about my parent’s divorce. My parents have been married for 42 years
and decided to separate. Words cannot express the hurt which I am experiencing!
The truth of the matter is that all of us live in a divided family.
Adam and Eve enjoyed the most intimate presence with the Father that anyone has
ever enjoyed. They lived in a sinless world not plagued with the hardships
which sin would cause. Yet when they sinned it brought separation in the
family.
For roughly 4,000 years mankind has struggled as a result of this
separation. However, when this separation first occurred, God promised mankind
that eventually One would come to overcome the effects of sin and thus make it
possible for the family to once again be reunited. This One has come and His
name is Jesus, whose birth we celebrate this time of year.
Jesus’ birth is the most incredible miracle in human history; that
God would become a man. God did not have to do it, but He did it because He
loves us and He wants all to be able to be reunited with Him as a result of
what Jesus did on the cross. This is the gift which God has for us. We must
simply receive this gift as Scripture teaches (see http://eugenechristianchurch.blogspot.com/2013/10/how-to-understand-bible-101-lesson-4b.html).
Furthermore, receiving what Jesus did for us is not the end of the
story. As we look back and remember what God has done by sending us His Son, we
are encouraged to look forward to what He will do in the future. When Jesus
returns, His family (those who have chosen to receive Him) will be reunited to
a state even better than when the family was separated. This is the bliss which
we as Christians are reminded to look to this time of year. It is true holiday
bliss!
Please join us on Sunday mornings as learn of this Child who
changed the world forever!
Merry Christmas,
Matt
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