Mountaintop Musings: Planning for the Party

Since we are now officially in the second week of December, I imagine that most of us are frantically and stressfully getting ready for a birthday party. I know that may sound like a strange way to say “getting ready for Christmas”, but that is what it is. Of course December 25th is not the real birthday of Jesus, but it is the day people chose to commemorate the entrance of the Eternal One in to this world we live in. The affluence of our society has turned a very Holy and special celebration in to a reckless debacle of debt, greed, profit, competition, and unfulfilled expectations. The result of which is often depression, isolation, resentment and heartache. That my friends is not what we want to see, yet it often happens doesn’t it?

God’s plan of the ages came about from a meticulous, and detailed plan. He definitely did not have to scramble at the end to give us a gift that fails to satisfy, or meets our greatest need(s). The gift he gave us is more precious than gold or silver. It’s “batteries” never need charging. Even when greatly abused this Great Gift still performs, is always waiting to be utilized, and always leaves the recipient with more than they anticipated. Yes God gave us (mankind) the gift of His Son, which is really giving us Himself. Immanuel, God with us, that is how the angel described him to Joseph in Matthew 1: 22-23: “ So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”.”

In these two verses we learn that Isaiah the prophet predicted over 700 years before the event that a very special child would come in to the world. Isaiah also paints the picture of the death of this child in chapters 52-53 of the book bearing his name. Yes the very life of this baby Jesus was planned out in eternity past. Jesus is described in Revelation 13:8 as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the earth. In other words it was part of a well thought out plan! God promised Adam and Eve a Deliverer would come (Genesis 3:15). He chose a man named Abraham to leave his life in Mesopotamia and go to Israel and that nations and kings would be his legacy (Genesis 12-22). The most important descendant would be the one in whom all nations of the world would be blessed, Genesis 12:3.

Well the world was roughly 4,000 years old when Jesus was born. I think God had his timing right! The ancient world had the Greeks to bring some stability to it. Law and order, schooling, thinking, etc. became somewhat organized. Then the Romans took centerstage and the world became accessible through the road systems, and language and commerce expanded. The sin and depravity of man continued (as it does today), and the nation of Israel ceased to exist as a sovereign nation. Yes sin has consequences. So in a time of turmoil, war, poverty, technological inventions, political fighting, slavery and disease God burst on to the stage of world history in a dramatic way!

The world has never been the same since Jesus came. History centers on Him even when the people ignore Him, the elite mock Him, and the Name Above All Names is used to curse the ones made in His Image. You are like the world in that since the day you were conceived in your Mother’s womb, God has been preparing you to meet Him. Have you received the Gift that Never Disappoints? Have you opened your heart to Jesus Christ and the freedom and forgiveness that is yours? I would implore you seek Him while is so near!

Again, I ask you to blow the dust off you family Bible and read it so you can know what God says and not take my word for it! Even Peter knew that God was not willing that any should perish but that all would come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Until next time, thanks for reading this column and feel free to call me any time.

(Dave & Lisa Carroll are area missionaries with InFaith, America’s oldest Christian home mission agency. You can contact Dave at 406.459.8935 or [email protected])