There was a time a number of years ago when my favorite basketball team had a bright future. If you’re a sports fan you know what it feels like when it looks like your team has years of championship potential in front of them. Because the future was bright, I decided it was time to order a hoodie… Every day I’d wake up and run to the front door to see if it had arrived and I would return multiple times throughout the day just so I didn’t miss its arrival. This was back in a time before amazon two day shipping so I ended up doing this every day for about a week. While my discontent grew as the week went on there was always excitement stirring within me that flowed from the promise of its arrival.
My scenario pales in comparison to what the nation of Israel had to endure. They were waiting on the arrival of a promise for hundreds of years, through some very difficult and dark times. Times when I’m sure their hearts were disheartened and all they had to hold onto was the promise of one who would come to save them (Isaiah 9:6-7).
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”
Matthew 1:23
Immanuel means God with us. We are living on the other side of the arrival of what was promised. We get the privilege of waking up every morning and putting on the sweatshirt that we waited so long to receive and resting in its comfort, confirming in us that we are not alone.
While we face dark and difficult times we can have hope because God is with us. While our discontent may grow in difficult times. While there may be a longing for things to be different, or better, and a deep desire for Christ to return and redeem and restore all the brokenness in our world. We should still have an excitement stirring within us because of the gift of Christ at Christmas. Because of the gift of Jesus even in the darkest of times we can have hope and excitement because He is with us covering us like the warmth of your favorite sweatshirt on a cold day, impossible to go anywhere without him.
Finally, The birth of Christ at Christmas gives us hope of what yet lies ahead and that is a time when Christ shall return and he will make right all that is broken.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Revelation 21:1-4
This Christmas may the assurance of Christ’s presence with you and the promise of what is to come bring hope to you and whatever situation you are currently facing in your life.
I want to close reminding you of the words of Deuteronomy 31:8
“It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
Adam Deering
Assistant Pastor