History is very important because history is what tells us where we have come from and where we are going. If you were ask yourself what is the pivotal event in all of human history that not only tells us where we came from but also answers the question of where we are going. History takes on a whole new meaning when we grasp the issue of central importance. If you were to read many of the theories of history that are being spun out they would tell us that we are really going now where that history has no meaning. They would see history in terms of some social cause or some political ideology i.e. communism, or socialism, fascism. Some elevation of a human idea such as supposed innate goodness of man or some theory about how to restore man back to his native pristine innocence.
The Bible tells us just the opposite in its view of history. The Bible sees man as having lost his goodness and become corrupted by sin. Darkness pervades the condition of the human race. When we watch the news we see that this manifestation of evil. Mankind is lost in nature’s night, but light has dawned upon the whole human race. St. John picks up on this light in this way,
John 1:1 (NIV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
Light has now dawned in the person of Jesus Christ. Light that gives hope to the world. Light that gives meaning to history, because the meaning of history has now come. The one who was from the very beginning (before time began to be counted), who with God and in his very nature was God, has now dawned upon the scene of human history. He has provided, something that all other views of human history are impotent to provide, eternal life.
John tells us that his life becomes the source of light for all mankind. Mankind has now the potential to be free from the bondage to the fear of death. The writer of the book of Hebrews picks up this view of history, in Hebr 2:14-15 (NIV) “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death–that is, the devil– and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” Jesus as a little baby becomes the hope of the world. He answers the burning question that all of us are asking what is the meaning of life and death? Where are we going? Jesus came as a little baby to be God solution to our problem, to be the source of light in our darkness.
This Christmas as you ponder it’s meaning. Remember that the author of life came himself. He took on the very nature and form of a human was born in the most humble of circumstances so that we could understand that God’s ways are different that man’s ways. God sent his Son in the perfection of timing as Paul says in Galatians 4:4 (NIV) But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law. When things looked hopeless, God, in perfect timing sent Jesus to be the hope of the world. History has meaning for us as Christians because we look back to the historical reality of the cradle which ultimately led to the cross and the empty tomb. This certainly tells us where we came from.
Christmas also tells us where we are going. It tells us that the same baby, is now a king in waiting, and will be the consummation of all of this age. We are moving towards an everlasting kingdom that will once and for all put an end to darkness.
Have a blessed Christmas,
Pastor Steve Wenner
