God's Word For You is a free Bible Study site committed to bringing you studies firmly grounded in the Bible – the Word of God. Holding a reformed, conservative, evangelical perspective this site affirms that God has provided in Jesus Christ his eternal Son, a way of salvation in which we can live in his presence guilt free, acquitted and at peace.

 
 

A CHRISTMAS MEDITATION

THE PIVOTAL POINT

Since around 800AD the birth of Jesus Christ has been used as the pivotal point of history in many of the world’s cultures. We define our human history by the initials ‘BC’ – ‘before Christ’, and ‘AD’ – ‘anno Domini’ (the year of our Lord).

Beyond and beside this practical human invention is a deep reality: that the incarnation of the Son of God is indeed the centre point, the critical point, the defining point, not just in human history, but in the grand and over-riding plan and sovereign purpose of God which he willed and determined before the creation of the world. All of the Old Testament looks forward to this point. All of the New Testament reflects on this point.

Here at this point that which was promised and anticipated is implemented and fulfilled; that which God said would happen did happen. Here God’s eternal purpose, God’s eternal plan, is accomplished. What God promised through the Old Testament prophets, what God had planned before he created the world, he has here made real in physical time and space (Galatians 4:4; Ephesians 1:4; Colossians 1:24 - 2:3; 2Timothy 1:9; 1Peter 1:20; Revelation 13:8).

Here at this pivotal point, this incarnation, our ignorance of God is supplanted by knowledge of God. By seeing Jesus Christ, by knowing Jesus Christ, we now see and know God (John 12:44, 45; 14:6 - 9).

Because of this pivotal point, this incarnation, any human claim that God does not exist is nullified. God became one of us - visible, physical, tangible  (John 1:1 - 4, 12 - 14; 1John 1:1 - 3).

Because of this pivotal point, this incarnation, all valid human questions about God are answered (John 1:18; 10:30; Colossians 2:3; 1John 5:20).

Because of this pivotal point, this incarnation, our human accusations revolving around God and human suffering are rendered void. He became one of us; he experienced our suffering; he bore our grief (Isaiah 53:3 -9; Hebrews 2:10 - 18).

Because of this pivotal point, this incarnation, our fearful dread of God is replaced by joy in God’s presence (Romans 5:11; 1Peter 1:8,9).

Because of this pivotal point, this incarnation of God, our deep human agony can be exchanged for deep, deep peace (John 14:27; Romans 5:1; Colossians 1:20).

Because of this pivotal point we sinners can be declared saints of God (Colossians 1:22; Hebrews 10:10).

Because of this pivotal point, this incarnation, our guilt can be overwhelmed and disempowered by God’s grace (Romans 3:24; Ephesians 2:1 - 9).

But there is here also another thing, a personal thing: here at this pivotal point the eternal and the infinite coalesce with the temporary and limited. Here life intermingles with death. Here God becomes man.

And in becoming man he confronts every one of us with a challenge that must be answered, that must be faced.

Here is not just the pivotal point in the human calendar. Here is not just the dividing point in human history. Here is not only the fulfilment of the overpowering will and purpose of God.

Here is also the pivotal point, the deciding point of every human life: here, in this incarnation, each one of us must choose faith or unbelief, life or death.

Here, at this point is the final opportunity, the final offer, the final command: here God stands before us and says: ‘Here I am. This is who I am. This is what I am. Change your mind. Believe in me. Choose me, choose life.’

And so the word of God confronts us, in the birth of Christ with this ultimate choice, this eternal choice:

'For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil' (John 3:17 - 19).

 'And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life' (1John 5:11, 12).

As we approach this Christmas season, may we not be distracted from this pivotal point, this point that demands our response: here in this incarnation, this human birth of the eternal Son of God, God comes to us, hand outstretched, calling us all back to himself, back to hope, back to life.

© Rosemary Bardsley 2010, 2021