God and man got off to a rather rocky start back in Eden. That’s when we came up with our own version of religion called “I Did It My Way.”
When the mountain thundered and shook at God’s presence and Moses came down with God’s expectations carved in rock no less, we assumed He was less than happy with us. The Psalmist picked up our apprehension when he asked God, “Will you be mad at us forever?”
Our paranoia in God’s presence reached its low point during the Dark Ages, when thought and art made it painfully clear that none of us was getting a passing grade from our Creator.
As the Old Testament comes to a close we find the silence of God suffocating. For 400 years He doesn’t speak. Our apprehension grows while our hopes struggle for survival. We can’t help but wonder if God has had just about enough of us and is calling his experiment with mankind a failure.
- I had hoped to meet his approval, but feared I hadn’t.
- I had hoped He’d see me in a good light, but feared the darkness of my life made me all but invisible to Him.
- I had hoped that the good things I did would outnumber the bad things … but feared they didn’t.
But just when hope was nearly extinguished, I spotted a Light in the darkened streets of Bethlehem. Drawing near I found myself looking down into a tiny face … the very face of God. And in that moment came the realization that I had totally misunderstood God.
He had come to pardon, not to punish! He was here to vindicate me, not victimize me! His plan was to lavish love, not mete out judgment! The hopes and fears of all the years met God face to face … and hope won!
May the joy of Christmas give your journey significance!
Paul Walterman