Christ Changed the World
Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year.
It’s wonderful not just because of the lights and decorations, not to mention getting together with those we love. What makes Christmas wonderful is the fact that the God of the Universe chose to leave his throne and come to earth as a baby – to live and die.
Most babies are born, grow up, then die without affecting more than a few folks. They may become doctors, leaders, or others who may change the status quo or even the course of history.
Before Christ came – before that first Christmas morning – the world and everyone in it were hopelessly alone, left to the whims of powers, weather, and evil. Not much to look forward to for tomorrow or the day after. Just more of the same, depressing day after depressing day.
But one baby made all the difference
Then, one night in a stable in the Middle East, the God I spoke of chose to join the human race as a little, helpless child. He didn’t pop out of Mary’s womb walking, talking, and performing miracles.
No, he was born like you and me, unable to walk on his own or feed himself. He experienced infancy the same as we did. Mary and Joseph had to teach and nurture him through the baby and toddler years and beyond. That’s not to say that God was unable to do these things, but that he chose to become one of us, to live like us, to relate to us.
How many gods would be willing to do that?
And his humbleness let us know that he could give us the perfect example of how to live. We’ll never be as perfect as he was and is, not even close! But he showed us he cared and he wants us to have the best life possible.
Even better, he willingly gave himself as a sacrifice to pay for all our sins. Think about that – is there anyone in the world who, after committing a crime and being sentenced to death, would be worthy of your life in exchange? Other than my children and grandchildren, I can’t think of anyone. But Christ did just that for every one of us, not just for his closest relatives or his “favorites.”
Some think Jesus Christ was just a good man, a prophet, or a teacher, but refuse to accept that he really was the son of God come to earth, performing miracles and amassing followers. Yet, if you look at history, many of his disciples were willing to be put to death rather than deny Christ was not really God.
Jesus Changed the World
So one man, Jesus Christ, not only changed the world and many lives. But he also changed the attitudes, loves, and actions of millions, merely by inviting them to be part of his family. No application, entrance fee, or ritual for membership. Just acceptance. We accept him to be our sacrifice and he accepts us into his family. That’s it.
And that can change your world too.
Emmanuel–God with us. What a difference that makes.