December 24, 2011

Christmas Eve message…

As we gather this Christmas season to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Christian radio, print media, the internet, and personal interactions are flooded with messages of encouragement, inspiration, and good cheer – all competing to be the most unique and memorable message – one which could become, in a sense, a “Hallmark” moment.

When I first decided to post a short message marking this momentous occasion, I was immediately inundated by many thoughts regarding the type of message I should post.  These all had the form and substance of a “traditional” theme…but the question was…how to say it in such a way that would somehow set it apart from all the other messages?

But almost as soon as the ideas began to coalesce, a deeper urging kept nudging these to the side. Despite my best efforts at ignoring this while I focused on how I could deliver a message that is somehow unique…different than those which have undoubtedly been delivered in countless different ways by both countless known, and unknown messengers over the past 2,000+ years, this one particular thought kept creeping to the forefront – that of forgiveness.

I wrestled with this concept for a while.  Why would I want to focus a “Christmas” message on forgiveness – shouldn’t the message be one of “glad tidings of great joy to all mankind”?  Shouldn’t I save the “forgiveness” aspect for an Easter message? I know that far too often many people, (myself included) particularly at this time of year, want a message that will “tickle their ears” – something that will make them “feel good”.  But, we must remember…it’s not about us.

At any rate, this date – and as people who study the “Word” know that this date has been arbitrarily selected from many possible dates – is actually of lesser importance; the actual time of Christ’s first arrival is far overshadowed when compared to the significance of His second.

So, while this specific event is a fulfillment of the prophecies spoken by Isaiah and other prophets, as well as alluded to as far back as the Book of Genesis, this time is still a mere foreshadowing of two even more momentous events – those of our Savior’s death and resurrection and His ultimate triumphant return!

Obviously God has been trying to lead us to focus not so much on the birth of Jesus Christ, but rather upon His death and resurrection!  So, this date is merely an arbitrary time which marks both a beginning and an end.  It marks an end to the suffering under the onus of burdensome man-made laws, rules, and regulations which we, mankind, had put in place to better clarify the few, simple, clear-cut, yet impossible-to-follow due to our sin-nature, directions that God gave in order to have a lasting relationship with Him. If we can’t follow a simple list of 10 things that God has given us, what makes us think that we could ever faithfully and totally adhere to the hundreds of rules and regulations developed by man which mark “the law”?  Most importantly this event marks a beginning – that of a final reconciliation with Him.

No, we can’t do this on our own.  It is only through the cross-work of Christ that we can ever hope to come into Our Father’s holy presence.  Not by anything we have done – not by works – only by the shed blood of Jesus Christ for the remission of all sin…and grace through faith.  It can all be summed-up in simple mathematics… “Jesus + nothing = salvation”.

So, during this season of giving…if you’re at odds regarding “what to get someone” perhaps the greatest gift you can give others is the gift of forgiveness…and not just YOUR forgiveness, but our Father’s forgiveness.

Forgiveness is not just a bi-lateral act.  In other words, it’s not a matter of someone committing a wrong toward you and then you forgiving them, forgetting it, and moving forward.  But rather, it’s a TRI-lateral act; one which involves you, the transgressor, AND God.  Therefore, when you pray, it is not enough to merely ask forgiveness for your sins and to “forgive others” for the wrongs they have committed toward you – but rather, pray that God will forgive those who have sinned against you – that their sins should be blotted-out and remembered by Him no more.  In this way, with Christ’s intervention, you can truly balance the books.

So, in conclusion…if this message has offended anyone or upset anyone or caused any discomfort – I apologize, but I’ve done my job.  However, if it has nudged anyone even one step closer to the saving grace of Christ, then the Holy Spirit has done His job.

Thank you and have a blessed Christmas!

Pastor Steve