This is the time of year when we start looking towards Christmas and what that entails. It is a time when we are surrounded by so many demands on our time and finances. For us as Christians we look towards Christ’s first coming but what does that mean for us in regards to creation?
“For God loved the kosmos (the whole of creation including us as human beings) in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the kosmos that He might condemn the kosmos, but that the kosmos might be saved through Him. (Based on John 3:16, 17 HCSB)
Let’s look back to this special moment in history and see. The birth of Jesus was a very special moment.
Maybe we could learn something from his first coming in the way we live our lives both seen in his birth, coming into a draughty stable with lots of farm animals around – being born in a manger. And then what we can read between the lines in his lifestyle of simple trust and being a carpenter who knew his trees (guessing as when working with wood you need to know something of the materials you use). He went from place to place living very simply – treading lightly upon the earth he had created and not using it or abusing it wantonly.
The shepherds came to adore him and they had been alerted by supernatural beings who also being part of God’s creation came and declared this awesome news that a saviour had been born.
Jesus came stooping low, being the servant king. He came to serve His creation dealing with human beings who could work with him to right the world that He created. The Father being the vinedresser, husbandman, gardener sending his son also the creator to put his creation right and being confirmed by the Holy Spirit who came in the form of a dove. The dove a sign of promise reminiscent also of the one from Noah’s hand sent out to find life and return with a branch of a life-giving tree.
The star that declared his coming whatever scientists say it was – showed the way. Everything in all creation is subject to Him who made it. Later in His life the earth quaked and it clouded over in darkness crying out at the Son’s demise on the cross.
For everything was created by Him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—
all things have been created through Him and for Him…and through Him to reconcile everything to Himself by making peace through the blood of His cross — whether things on earth or things in heaven. Col 1:16, 20 (HCSB)
all things have been created through Him and for Him…and through Him to reconcile everything to Himself by making peace through the blood of His cross — whether things on earth or things in heaven. Col 1:16, 20 (HCSB)
Things that were made were built to last not like the things we seem to build these days! Creation has an inbuilt way of recycling itself too, nothing ever gets wasted, something to bear in mind this Christmas when surrounded by wrapping paper and Christmas presents we don’t really want let alone need!
Let’s keep Christmas simple as it was meant to be and put simple trust in Jesus God’s son, Saviour and Redeemer of the kosmos, partnering with Him for His kingdom on earth.