If you are reading this post, then, like me, you are a lucky survivor of The End of the World 2012. Having lived through the Mayan’s end-times, it is easy to become arrogant and cannibalistic- after all, we still have our physical bodies and aren’t floating around in an ethereal ‘higher plane of existence’ (nice though that might have been).
The Mayan Civilisation may have discovered an awful lot of things by looking to the stars, but the final trumpet call of this world was not one of them. The Bible, on the other hand, tells us that no man can know the when or how of the end-world scenario. Unlike atheists or many scientists, who view the end of the world as a cosmic disaster -the failure of human endeavour- Christians eagerly await the day when their Saviour and Lord will return, bodily, to this world. Culture may preach an apocalyptic finale when all good and kindness and ingenuity is wiped out to give way to a desolate wasteland. God, however, promises a new creation- physical, with all the senses: touching, hearing, smelling, tasting, seeing and thinking. And rather than all good being destroyed, all evil shall be utterly destroyed. Suffering will end, injustice will end, hatred will end.
The book of Revelation (the final book of the Bible) gives us many clues or hints about the end of this world and the start of the next. The grand plan, however, God has rightfully kept to himself.
Why hasn’t he come already? Because he is a God of compassion- he allows us each time to turn to him for forgiveness.
Why do we need forgiveness? Because if God is making a new creation which has no injustice or wrongdoing, then we don’t have a place in it. We each have failed God’s perfect standard, and without his forgiveness and remedy, we cannot expect to join him in Heaven.
How can we be forgiven? Only through the sacrifice God made on our behalf. Jesus Christ- the son of God and also God himself- freely came to earth, humbling himself by becoming a baby boy in a manger. He grew up with the singular purpose of dying in a wicked and horrific manner to pay the penalty we deserve for our sins against the King.
As a Christian, I celebrate Christmas because it is a reminder of my God sacrificing the splendours of Heaven to come down to the grit and dirt of earth to be born, live and die on my behalf.
1. Thou who wast rich beyond all splendour,
All for love's sake becamest poor;
Thrones for a manger didst surrender,
Sapphire-paved courts for stable floor.
Thou who wast rich beyond all splendour,
All for love's sake becomes poor.2. Thou who art God beyond all praising,
All for love's sake becamest man;
Stooping so low, but sinners raising
Heavenwards by thine eternal plan.
Thou who art God beyond all praising,
All for love's sake becamest man.3. Thou who art love beyond all telling,
Saviour and King, we worship thee.
Emmanuel, within us dwelling,
Make us what thou wouldst have us be.
Thou who art love beyond all telling,
Saviour and King, we worship thee.
But, praise God, my Saviour is no longer dead- oh no.
How can death contain the very creator of Life itself?
Answer: it cannot. Jesus broke the shackles of the grave and rose from the dead.
What an amazing thing to be able to write! Our Saviour lives! He doesn’t rot in a tomb in Israel, he lives and reigns by his Father’s side. Not only that, but we are promised that he will return to us.
In Revelation, Jesus Christ is described as The Amen. Amen roughly means let it be so. Why- you ask- should Jesus be called ‘The Amen’? Here is your answer…
Because of Jesus’ death our sins have been defeated once and for all- Amen! Let it be so!
Because of Jesus’ resurrection we can also be promised a resurrection from death and an eternal home with him - Amen! Let it be so!
Because of Jesus’ promised return we can live knowing that nothing can destroy us or separate us from his love for us- Amen! Let it be so!
I hope you have a fantastic Christmas and that you can join me in saying a loud “Amen!” to the Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord!
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