Best Way to Know a Book Is to Know the Author

The art and craft of writing books have fascinated me for a long time. Having written, co-authored and edited more than 20 books myself, I know it’s a complicated, challenging endeavor. Author Philip Yancey has described the writing process as something like this: “All you have to do is sit at the computer, fingers on the keyboard, until beads of blood appear on your forehead.” (Who said writing is ‘no sweat’?)

I identify very well with another of Yancey’s observations about writing: “I hate to write – but I love to have written.” Sometimes I can be extremely creative in procrastinating from sitting at the keyboard, but the end result from the hard work of writing can be very rewarding. 

 

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of meeting and interacting with a number of other authors. I’ve concluded that we writers are a strange bunch, many leaning toward being introverts since we spend so much time inside our own heads. 

 

Most of us will never meet our favorite authors – especially ones like Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway, the Bronte sisters, William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, and many other literary greats who have passed from the scene. But in reading their books, we can capture a glimpse of who they are (or were). Because most of the time, authors write about things that interest or intrigue them. 

 

For instance, horrormeister Stephen King (whom I’ve met) obviously has a fascination with things that go bump in the night. As did Edgar Allan Poe. Agatha Christie must have thought it great fun to conjure up a good mystery. John Grisham revels in courtroom drama. And Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov had a particular penchant for the collision of science and futuristic fiction.

 

However, while books offer a glimpse into what authors think about, their writings don’t always reveal much about what they’re really like in real life. Are they as clever and engaging in person as characters in their books? Do they have sinister, brooding personalities? Would we enjoy being their friend? 

 

On the other hand, don’t you think you’d understand a book better if you truly knew its author?

 

At this point we should note a very important difference between every other book and…the Bible. Consisting of 66 books (39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament), compiled from about 40 different people who wrote under the inspiration of God, the Bible truly is the Word of God. Its pages teach us not only what interests Him but also reveals who He is – in extraordinary detail.

 

As 2 Timothy 3:16 informs us, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” One new believer concluded after reading this verse, “God wrote a book!”

 

Not only that, but despite its many ‘sub-books’ and numerous human writers, the Bible is unique in that it carries one central theme that spanned thousands of years: redemption through Jesus Christ.

 

Books, whether produced on physical paper or displayed on an electronic screen, consist of words, sentences and paragraphs. The Scriptures tell us something about Jesus that no one else has or could ever claim: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…. The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us” (John 1:1,14).

 

If we wonder what God is like, we need look no further than to Jesus. As Hebrews 1:3 tells us, “He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power.” In one of his books, Yancey expressed it this way: “Jesus became the visible, finite expression of the invisible, infinite, inexpressible God.”

 

When we think of famous authors, Jesus Christ might not be the first name to roll off our tongues. But the Bible states Jesus indeed was an author – in the most profound sense. Speaking to a crowd of people at a place in Jerusalem called Solomon’s Colonnade, the apostle Peter declared, “You killed the author of life, but God raised Him from the dead” (Acts 3:15). 

 

Later in the New Testament we find another reference to Jesus’ authorship. Hebrews 12:2 urges us, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

 

Both passages show Jesus as a different type of “author,” not the writer of a singular work of non-fiction or fiction, but the giver of life itself. Even though we have beating hearts, blood pulsing through our veins, and air in our lungs, the Scriptures teach that apart from Christ we are spiritually dead. Yet because of what He has done on our behalf, we can experience and enjoy new life:

“…because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:4-5).

 

Another verse I’ve cited before speaks of this new life, available to everyone who will receive it: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

 

Receiving Christ’s gift of salvation, forgiveness and redemption not only assures us of life after death, but also eternal life right now. We know this because of what God says in the Bible: “I write these things to you who believe in the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). Note this doesn’t say, ‘you will have eternal life,’ but rather, “you have eternal life” – present tense.

 

The Lord doesn’t just want to turn a page on our lives. He wants to start writing a new book in us. I like how James Banks, a devotional writer for Our Daily Bread, put it: “The author of life stands ready to write new beginnings for us!” Doesn’t that sound good?

Can’t Have Christmas Without a Cross

When we think of Christmas, many images immediately come to mind: Santa Claus. Flying reindeer. Christmas trees. Brightly wrapped and ribboned gifts around the tree. The traditional Nativity scene featuring Mary, Joseph, the Christ Child, shepherds, barnyard animals, maybe some Magi (aka wisemen). 

Increasingly, for me a cross must be included among these images – because if it weren’t for the cross of Christ, there would be no Christmas. No need for it.

 

If I were a painter, or even a sketch artist, I’d figure out a way to present a shadow of a cross cast across the makeshift crib in which the infant lay. Even if it seems a bit crass, especially in light of romanticized imagery of the humble surroundings for Jesus’ birth, His foremost purpose in taking on human form wasn’t not to teach, provide a living example, or perform miracles. It was to die.

 

The Gospel of John clearly presents the good news that was initiated with the birth of the Son of God. We’re told, “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us” (John 1:14). Another gospel, Matthew, expands upon that truth: “‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel’ – which means, ‘God with us’” (Matthew 1:23).

 

But a baby’s arrival the usual human way was just the start of what we understand by the term “God incarnate” – God in the flesh. If that’s all it amounted to, He could have simply arranged for snapshots to be taken that we could share and enjoy. Just as the birth of any child marks its emergence into the physical world, the birth of Jesus represented just the start of what’s been called by some, “the greatest story ever told.”

 

In John 3:16 we read the famous declaration, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” However, this love – and this gift – meant much more than the Lord being able to understand human existence. 

 

Because in another New Testament book we’re told, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). This did not come as a surprise to God. In fact, it was part of His divine plan from time immemorial. 

 

We find this prophecy from thousands of years earlier: “But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:5). From the very beginning of time, humankind has had a tremendous problem – a sin problem. One for which we had no remedy. 

 

Romans 3:23 presents the bad news, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Our sins have separated us from God, and we have no capability for doing anything about that. But a subsequent verse, Romans 6:23, tells us there’s hope: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

 

Returning to the Gospel of John, we discover more about this gift. It says, “Yet to all who received Him [God’s gift], to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). Any gift, regardless of its worth, must be received to be of any benefit. The same is true for this greatest of all gifts. It is available to all who will both receive and believe.

 

Imagine showing up for the family Christmas gathering and while gifts are being exchanged, someone folds his or her arms and smugly says, “I don’t want it.” The gift had been thoughtfully planned; effort was extended to acquire it; the cost was fully considered. It was perfect. Yet the chosen recipient refused to accept it, not even bothering to see what it was.

 

This, sadly, is what many people do with the offered gift of salvation, forgiveness, redemption and eternal life. They may glance fondly at the quaint and serene Nativity scene, but refuse to consider the cross and its immeasurable cost to God. That is the tragedy of all tragedies.

 

Perhaps this Christmas, as we gather in our churches to sing “Away in a Manger,” it would be fitting also to sing the words of “The Old Rugged Cross.” Because without it, the babe in a manger in a small, inconspicuous town in ancient Judea wouldn’t even be a footnote in history. 

 

But there was a cross. The Cross. Because of it we have this promise: “And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again” (2 Corinthians 5:15). Christ was born – and He died – so that we might live. Live for Him. That’s why we can truly have a merry and joyous Christmas! 

Giving Gifts in Response to the Incomparable Gift

During the Christmas season, besides the traditional carols, my favorite song is “The Little Drummer Boy.” It may be in part because I’ve been a bit of a drummer boy myself for much of my life, but that’s not the only reason.

 

It doesn’t matter whether it’s the iconic version by the Harry Simeone Chorale, the Pentatonix acapella rendition, or the rousing, multi-percussion presentation by For King and Country. They all stir up strong emotions, not only through the melody but also by its simple yet profound message amid all the “pa rum pum pum pums.”

 

You’re probably familiar with the lyrics, but maybe you haven’t spent much time thinking about them. Here are some of them:

Come they told me
Pa rum pum pum pum

A newborn king to see
Pa rum pum pum pum

Our finest gifts we bring
Pa rum pum pum pum

To lay before the king
Pa rum pum pum pum…

 

Then the little drummer boy in the song laments, “Little baby…I am a poor boy too…. I have no gift to bring…that’s fit to give our king….” So true. What worthy gift can you give to the King of all creation, even as an infant? Then the little boy asks, “Shall I play for you?... I played my drum for him…. I played my best for him.”

 

The closing thought in the song sums up the impact of the simple yet heartfelt “gift”: “Then he smiled at me…me and my drum.”

 

The birth of the Christ Child – called “Immanuel” in Isaiah 7:14, which means “God with us” – carries so much meaning that libraries of books have been written about it. As I’ve noted in previous posts, John 1:14 encapsulates this by stating, “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” 

 

But Jesus Christ’s life and teachings wouldn’t have the magnitude they do without His death and resurrection. That’s why the promise of John 3:16, familiar to many of us, is so powerful: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

 

If that’s not clear enough, Romans 5:8 declares, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” That, ultimately, is the incomparable gift – God in the flesh going to the cross and giving His life as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

 

Which brings us back to the Little Drummer Boy and his lament. Where can we find a gift that’s fit to give our King? I would suggest the “gift” we can – and should – give is what God has already given to us. In several New Testament books – notably Romans, 1 Corinthians, 1 and 2 Timothy, and 1 Peter, we read about the “spiritual gifts” bestowed by God on each of His children. What better gift to the Lord than to use these for His glory and to serve others?

 

There is some debate about exactly how many different spiritual gifts there are, but they definitely include divinely empowered traits such as wisdom, faith, teaching, prophecy, exhortation, giving, leadership, administration, and service. There are numerous “spiritual gifts tests” designed to help people identify their specific gift – or gifts. The key is, they’re intended to enhance the body of Christ, not for our own benefit.

 

Revelation 4:10 tells about, “the 24 elders [who]…lay their crowns before the throne and say, ‘You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power’….” I don’t fully understand what that means, but I believe in a similar manner, whatever spiritual gifts we have received from God can be returned to Him through our lives and our service to others. As another passage admonishes, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord…. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:4-7).

In “The Little Drummer Boy,” the little boy humbly offers his drumming to the baby Jesus. After playing his best, “Then he smiled at me….” Similarly, if we offer to the Lord whatever gifts and abilities He has given to us, I believe He smiles at us too. 

Why Was the First Christmas Necessary?

You might have heard about the day an art teacher gave her young students an assignment to paint any subject of their choice. As she circuited the room looking at the students’ work, she came to Billy who was working very intently.

 

“What is your picture about?” she asked. “I’m painting a picture of God,” he responded. “Well, Billy, I appreciate your effort, but nobody knows what God looks like.” “They will when my picture is done!” he confidently replied.

 

You have to admire the kid’s spunk, but the teacher was right – no one has seen God. To experience that surely would be the ultimate mind-blowing experience. How could our finite minds begin to absorb the sight of the infinite God who created not only the earth and everything in it, but also the entire universe?

 

Chapter 33 of the book of Exodus gives an account of Moses speaking with the Lord, overwhelmed by the responsibility for leading a huge, headstrong throng of Israelites. During this amazing conversation, Moses makes a bold, presumptuous, request: “Now show me Your glory.” God’s response is, in effect, “Moses, you have no idea what you’re asking.” He states, “you cannot see My face, for no one may see Me and live” (Exodus 33:12-23). 

 

The Lord did place Moses in the cleft of a large rock and allowed him to catch a brief glimpse of Himself from the back. Even that was enough to make Moses’ face glow with the “shekinah glory” of God. When he went down Mount Sinai from receiving the Ten Commandments and returned to the Israelites, they insisted that he cover his face because it was too bright to behold.

 

What does this have to do with Christmas, just days away? It’s simple: In the birth of Jesus Christ, God took on human form, becoming “visible” to those with whom He lived and encountered. As John 1:14 declares, “And the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us….” 

 

We find this truth expressed in a different way in Hebrews 1:2-3, “In these last days [God] has spoken to us in His Son…and He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature….” In His incarnation as Jesus, the Lord doesn’t show us everything there is to know about Himself – our brains couldn’t begin to contain His totality – but He reveals everything we need to know about Him.

 

Joseph and Mary, a puzzled but obedient couple, had made the arduous journey from nondescript Nazareth to an equally unremarkable Bethlehem, where Jesus would be born. They both had received appearances by an angel who declared they had been chosen for the singular honor of becoming the earthly parents for the Son of God.

 

To Joseph the angel announced, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:20-21).

 

Mary, a virgin, heard a similar declaration: “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High…” (Luke 1:30-32). Not quite what the betrothed couple had been expecting, but in faith they did what God’s messenger had told them.

 

Prior to that initial Christmas day, humankind had a problem. A big one, called SIN. Sin means not only disobeying and rebelling against God, but also creating a separation from God we could not fix. Jesus became the one and only solution to that universal human problem. As John the Baptist would state years later as Christ was about to begin His earthly ministry, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).

 

Jesus, God in the flesh, came not only to teach and show us what God is like – His character, love, compassion and humility, but also to die on a cross to pay the penalty for sin. Three days after His crucifixion, Jesus was resurrected to declare His victory over sin and death, and pave the way for everyone who trusted in Him to become “born again” (John 3:3) and “new creations [in Him]” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

 

Radio commentator Paul Harvey used to tell the story of a man who had declined to attend the local church’s Christmas Eve service with his family. Instead, he had planned to spend a quiet evening reading by the fire. However, a persistent rapping at a window got his attention. A flock of birds was flying into the window, seeing the light and seeking refuge from the cold.

 

Finally, the man went outside and opened the door to his barn, thinking the birds would realize they could find sanctuary there. But they never understood what he was trying to get them to do. With no alternative, the man concluded the only way he could help the birds and guide them into the barn would have been to become a bird himself. 

 

At that moment the church bells tolled. He realized that was exactly what God had done for us – in the person of Jesus Christ – becoming like us in every way, “yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).

This Christmas our task is not to attempt, like the little boy, to capture the image of God with paper and paint. Instead, we’re to accept the greatest Christmas gift ever: “Yet to all who have received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). And once we have done so, we have the privilege of communicating His truth to others. Merry Christmas! 

The Search for the True Meaning of Christmas

Have you ever found yourself frantically searching for something that you later discovered was right in front of you? Or as my mom used to say, “If it were a snake, it would have bitten you!” Maybe you’re fumbling around, trying to figure out what you did with your smartphone – while talking to a friend with it? Or you wondered what you did with your eyeglasses – which you were actually wearing?

 

It’s said that men in particular have this problem, being asked by their wives to retrieve something from the refrigerator or a cupboard that they can’t find, even though it’s in plain sight. I plead the fifth!

 

This time of year, it seems as if lots of people engage in a similar search for the obvious, except it concerns Christmas. “What is the true meaning of Christmas?” they ask somewhat philosophically. In response to that question, we hear all kinds of answers. They range from, “It’s a magical time” to “time with family and friends” to “the season for giving.” Some folks borrow from what the angels told the shepherds on that first Christmas day, “peace on earth, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14).

 

Watching the seasonal rom-com movies and popular Christmas songs, we’re told it’s all about snow, snuggling up to a warm fire, meeting that special person, imagining genuine peace on earth, frantically buying gifts and attending festive parties. Curiously, Jesus is rarely if ever mentioned. 

 

It makes me scratch my head. Certainly peace, kindness, good will, joy, generosity and many other virtues are among the byproducts of the Christmas season, but if we believe what the Bible teaches, we don’t have to conduct an exhaustive search for the true meaning of Christmas. It’s declared clearly and indisputably.

 

One of the bold statements in the opening chapter of the gospel of John is, “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us” (John 1:14). In other words, God took on human form and lived for a time as a man on earth, experiencing life in much the same way that we do. 

 

In Jesus Christ we find everything we need to know about God. Hebrews 1:3 puts it this way: “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being….” Do we desire to comprehend what God is like? All we need to do is look to Jesus. He became the fulfillment of many Old Testament prophecies, including “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him ‘Immanuel’ – which means, ‘God with us’” (Matthew 1:23).

 

During this season when buying and exchanging gifts occupies so much of our time and thoughts, we find that Jesus Christ was Himself the very first Christmas gift. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

 

When the biblical Christmas story is told, we often hear about the Magi, or wise men, who traveled a great distance from the East following a star – perhaps the world’s first GPS – to see the prophesied “king of the Jews” (Matthew 2:2). When they found Jesus with His earthly parents, Mary and Joseph, they presented Him with gold, frankincense and myrrh, gifts suitable for royalty.

 

So much more could be said about that initial Christmas and its meaning. For instance, God chose for His Son to be born in the obscure village of Bethlehem. The specific site for Jesus’ birth was a stable – or as many believe, actually a cave – where He and his parents were joined by dirty farm animals. His “crib” was a feeding trough for the animals. And the angels announced the good news of His birth not to the elite of Jewish society, but to a group of shepherds, representing the very bottom of the social register of that day.

 

The humbling, unassuming circumstances of the promised Messiah’s arrival, totally without the pomp and circumstances we might have expected had we been writing the story, serve as an everlasting example of what Christ expects of His followers. As Jesus admonished His disciples, “The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:11-12).

Certainly, the Christmas season can mean many different things. We all have our own traditions, memories, activities, and circle of friends and family with whom we wish to spend the holiday season. But when it comes to determining “the true meaning of Christmas,” it must start and end with the celebration of the One for whom it’s named – the Christ-Mass. If we can’t see that, it’s because we’re looking in the wrong places. Or we can’t see what’s right in front of us.

The True Meaning of Christmas – Is It Even a Question?

What’s the true meaning of Christmas? How many times have you heard that being asked on talk shows, news commentaries, or the holiday movies? It happens every year, as if it’s a multiple-choice question, a matter of opinion or personal preference.

So, what is the true meaning of Christmas? Santa Claus? Brightly decorated Christmas trees? Magical snowy scenery? Exchanging gifts? Spending time with family we rarely see the rest of the year?

 

Maybe the meaning is more virtuous, things like generosity, love, kindness, childlike wonder. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I choose to go with not what I think, but what God thinks. We find His “opinion” stated in John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” From this we get the term “God incarnate” – God becoming a human being.

 

When we gaze at a nativity scene, sing carols about the birth of Jesus Christ, or send cards declaring “Jesus is the Reason for the Season,” we’re reminding ourselves and others about the true meaning of “Christ-mas.” Other trappings of the season are fun. Some are desperately needed. Heaven knows we need a lot more good will toward men (and women and children). And peace on earth seems more and more like wishful thinking. But without Jesus, there would never have been a Christmas.

 

As I’ve written on another platform, countless sermons and messages have already been spoken and written to convey the importance and magnitude of Christmas. What more can be added to that? Maybe what’s needed is not new information but pausing to reflect on what we already know, the impact of “‘Immanuel, which means, ‘God with us,’” as we’re told in Matthew 1:23.

 

The first chapter of the gospel of John presents us with amazing truths, For starters, literally, it declares that Jesus didn’t just suddenly appear 2,000 years ago – it says He was from the beginning of everything: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that was made” (John 1:1-3).

 

In addition, we’re told Jesus came to give life, to rescue us from dead, “religious” works, and to bring light to the world, shining the only path to life that will not end. “In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it” (John 1:4-5).

 

The Bible teaches that every man, woman and child is God’s creation, made in His image. But not all are members of His divine, eternal family. So, a third and critical truth from this brief passage is that Jesus came to offer the one and only way to become members of God’s family. That requires a unique transaction, receiving as a gift what is available only through Jesus Christ: 

“Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God” (John 1:12-13). 

 

Jesus elaborated on this promise later in John’s gospel: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

 

We may idealize a pastoral scene with a young woman, her betrothed husband and a baby surrounded by barnyard animals, shepherds, angels and wise men. But from that humble, inconspicuous beginning came the most momentous, history-changing life and ministry of all time. One that causes each of us who follows Christ to declare with the angels, “Glory to God in the highest!” (Luke 2:14).

 

Merry Christmas to you. May your day and celebration be truly blessed!

 

Christmas and Its Conflict with Contentment

“What do you want for Christmas?” This is a question we’ve either asked of someone, or someone has asked of us. Perhaps both. Because Christmas is all about getting stuff we want, right? At least that’s the message we receive from advertisers and retail locations big and small, both real and virtual. 

 

We’re also told it doesn’t matter whether we can afford it or not. Just pull out a credit card. The old “buy now, pay later” strategy. Preacher Alistair Begg calls this the way to “fulfill your wanting without waiting.”

 

Of course, if you often read this blog, you might agree with my contention that Christmas isn’t about the advancement of materialism. Yes, gift giving is a time-honored part of the Christmas tradition, perhaps more in the U.S.A. than anywhere else. But when we start hearing characters in holiday movies, talk show commentators and TV commercials asking the over-used question, “What is the true meaning of Christmas?” my gut response is, “Duh!” 

 

Leave the Christ Child out of the equation and all we’ve got left is “mas.” Ironically, in Spanish the word “mas” means “more,” so perhaps that’s part of the reason that for many, Christmas turns into a quest for acquiring more and more stuff.

 

For followers of Jesus, however, the understanding of the meaning and purpose of Christmas is more straight-forward. It’s an annual celebration of a unique birth more than 2,000 years ago, when “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us…who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). If Jesus, whom believers came to recognize as “the Christ” or the promised Messiah, hadn’t been born, there would have been no need for a Christmas observance.

 

Let’s shift to the consideration of the gift-giving side of Christmas. After all, even Christ’s birth was marked with the presentation of gifts. Magi, wise men from the East who were led to seek out the fulfillment of prophecies dating back to the Old Testament days of Daniel, brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh as symbols of their reverence. 

 

We could rightly conclude that the exchange of gifts doesn’t violate any biblical principles or commandments. In fact, the Scriptures strongly endorse giving and cultivating a giving attitude. We often think of Jesus’ statement, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35), but we find admonitions for lavish, even hilarious giving throughout the Bible. 

 

I particularly like the encouragement from Proverbs 11:24-25, "One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”

 

The problem comes when we confuse strivings for more and more with the ability to feel content with whatever we already have. The apostle Paul addressed this in cautioning his disciple, Timothy, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that” (1 Timothy 6:6-8).

 

Elsewhere the apostle, while addressing the willingness of believers in Philippi to support his ministry, wrote, “…I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” (Philippians 4:11-12).

 

This is the challenge we face during this special season of the year, seeking to keep separate our wants from our needs, and to cultivate contentment in what could be termed, to borrow the words of John Steinbeck, “the winter of our discontent.” 

We Really Don’t Have to See to Believe

Once upon a time, long before any of us had ever heard of something called “the novel coronavirus,” aka “Covid-19,” my family traveled to Charleston, S.C. to attend a lovely outdoor wedding. The setting couldn’t have been more perfect. Well, almost. Situated along the banks of the James River, the temperature was pleasant and the natural views were breath-taking. The problem was with what we couldn’t see.

During the ceremony, guests began scratching – their scalps, their arms, their legs. What was causing the itch? Nothing that we could see. But the itching and temporary annoyances were there just the same.

 

Only later did we discover the culprits. Tiny creatures known in the region as “no-see-ums,” a pesky species of insects known by their scientific name, Ceratopogonidae. Being 1-3 millimeters in length, they’re extremely hard to see; hence their name. But for the fidgeting, itching wedding guests on that warm summer evening, believing required no seeing. Virtually invisible to the eye, the effects of the bugs were undeniable.

 

We’ve all heard the phrase, “seeing is believing,” but our world offers us myriad examples that confirm that in many respects, believing is seeing. We can’t see the wind, but can observe its impact blowing through the trees or whipping through our hair. We can’t see love as a tangible entity, but can see it displayed through a kiss or hug, acts of kindness, and faithful devotion. 

 

We can’t pour hatred into a container – although I wish we could, and then bury it in the deepest hole ever dug. But throughout human history we’ve seen the devastating evidence of hate, manifested in countless ways, including over the past year and a half. Not being able to see something doesn’t disprove its existence.

 

This lighted cross at Lake Junaluska,
N.C. is a visual symbol of the 
unseen but very real God.

In a far more profound way, being able to believe in what can’t be seen is crucial to one’s faith in the all-powerful, ever-present, all-knowing God. In the Old Testament, we read about Moses boldly asking God, “show me Your glory.” After being directed to hide within the crevice of a rock, Moses was permitted to gaze at God’s back, but not His face (Exodus 33:18-23). But to actually see God in His totality? That would be the ultimate mind-blowing experience, far beyond the capacity of the human brain.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was visible during the 33 years He took on human form –“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). But during most of the time when Jesus’ closest followers were seeing Him, day after day, after day, they failed to understand or believe who He really was.

 

And even after the disciples finally “got it,” Jesus downplayed the importance of physically seeing Himself. Speaking to Thomas – commonly known as “doubting Thomas” because he seemed always to insist on tangible proof before moving into genuine belief – Jesus said, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29).

 

So it seems actual sight isn’t all that critical, unless the seeing comes through the eyes of faith. I appreciate what 1 Peter 1:8-9 has to say about this:“Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

 

From time to time we hear people say things like, “You can’t prove the existence of God!” But He’s not a lab experiment. And it’s equally true that we can’t disprove the existence of God. In fact, if we consider the visible and demonstrable effects the Lord has on this world, proof far outweighs the lack of it. 

 

In fact, in Romans 1:19-20 we read, “since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain…. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”

 

Think about it: The complexity of our world and the universe. The inexplicable synchronicity that seems to govern everything, even when science tells us things naturally move from order to chaos, not the other way around. The amazing and always surprising beauty of creation and all that it includes. Not only these, but also human qualities such as creativity, love, compassion, mercy, humor, even consciousness and reason. Those certainly could not have “evolved” from nothingness, or even inanimate, lifeless objects.

 

Life is filled with things we find difficult to comprehend. Many of our “why” and “how” questions concerning God and His workings beg for answers we’ll not likely receive this side of eternity. But again, this is why “believing is seeing” is such an important ingredient in the recipe for a growing, trusting relationship with the Lord. “For we live by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).

In an Infinite Galaxy, Is It Bad to Be Just One Star?

If you haven’t seen the film, “I Still Believe,” I heartily recommend that you view it soon. Especially if you remain cooped up in your house or apartment due to pandemic restrictions. We all can use an uplifting message during times like these. 

It’s one of those “based on a true story” movies, about Jeremy Camp, who would become one of today’s better-known Christian praise singers and songwriters. I mention this not to promote the movie, but to recount one poignant moment in it. Camp and his soon-to-be girlfriend, then fiancé and wife, Melissa, are in a museum, staring at an illuminated depiction of the universe on the ceiling 

“I’m just one star in an infinite galaxy,” Melissa says in quiet humility. Then the love-struck Jeremy replies, “But some stars shine brighter than others.” (And everybody said, “Awwww!”) Seriously, there’s wisdom in both comments, something worth thinking about.

Because realistically, few of us are ever going to become household names, the kind of folks whose autographs we clamor for, or whose names frequently appear in magazines and maybe even history books. Out of billions of people in the world, we’re each just one of them. But that doesn’t mean we’re not important, that we don’t matter. 

Because when John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life,” that means you – and me. And God taking on human form – “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14) – not only to teach and live as an example, but also to die for our sins, is no insignificant act.

To continue the astronomy metaphor, our sun is a star, although according to astronomers and other scientists who study the universe, it’s not a very big one. Yet without the sun, life on this earth would be impossible. The galaxies outside of our own may contain much larger and more powerful stars, but the star at the center of our solar system is indispensable.

And yes, some stars do seem to shine brighter than others. In the world of science, for instance, there are Galileo, Copernicus, Newton, Kepler and a host of others whose discoveries proved world-changing. In business, invention and industry, we have Ford, Carnegie, Edison, Tesla, up to visionaries like Jobs and Gates. In the spiritual realm we have folks like Moses, David, the apostle Paul – and of course, Jesus.

But that doesn’t mean the rest of us, stars who don’t shine as brightly, aren’t valuable. Behind every bright, bursting star there are lesser stars that have served as guides, teachers, mentors, supporters and models to assist the brighter ones to excel. 

Anyone who has any familiarity of the Bible knows the apostle Paul, the one-time Christian persecutor who surrendered his life to Jesus and became a leader of the early Church. He also wrote much of the New Testament. But how many people know much about Barnabas? “Mr. B” was the one who sought out Saul after his conversion, became his mentor, and partnered with the apostle on several missionary journeys. Then, when they had a harsh disagreement over John Mark, Barnabas left Paul to become mentor to his nephew. Mark became the fellow who wrote the gospel by the same name.

I hardly consider myself a “bright star,” but I’m thankful for the people who served as stars in my life, including teachers who encouraged me to further my education and become a writer; employers who took chances on me when I had little experience to bring to the job; and many who had a profound impact on my life spiritually, through their living examples, biblical teaching, discipling and writings.

Do you regard yourself as a star – or at least, a moon reflecting the light of Christ? You should, because as Philippians 2:15 declares, “so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life….” Whose life can you help to shine brighter?

Old Testament, New Testament: Saying the Same Thing?

I’ve heard there’s a movement – even some popular preachers – to diminish, if not flat-out discard, the Old Testament from common Bible teaching. “Let’s forget about God’s dealings with the Jews and let’s just focus on the good stuff, the Jesus stuff,” they seem to be saying. What a sad state that would be!

This came to mind just this morning as I was reading in the Scriptures. I’d never noticed it before, but foundational passages from both the Old Testament and the New Testament – Genesis 1:1-5 and John 1:1-5 – say virtually the same thing.

For comparison’s sake, let’s look at the two passages together:

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waves. And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light ‘day,’ and the darkness he called ‘night.’ And there was evening, and there was morning – the first day” (Genesis 1:1-5)

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it” (John 1:1-5).

It’s hard to miss the many parallels. The first three words of both passages, of course, are “In the beginning.” But then they go on to introduce the first moments of Creation, and in John 1:3 we discover that the Orchestrator of it all was “the Word” – which John 1:14 later explains, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” It was Jesus, way back when God created a wonderful “something” out of absolute nothing, and when the Lord took on human flesh – came to bring light and life – to rescue humankind from the prevailing darkness and death.

Years ago a ministry founded by Dr. Bruce Wilkinson, called Walk Thru the Bible, made its mission to teach the Bible and to show how Jesus is presented in each of the 66 books of the Bible. Wilkinson later authored a book, Talk Thru the Bible, to help readers capture this understanding. Even in the least known of the Old Testament books, we can find Jesus there.

So it puzzles me – and perplexes me – when I hear of those who would seek to set aside the Old Testament as if the God it portrays is no longer the God we seek to know, worship and serve today. As Hebrews 13:8 assures us, “Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever.” He hasn’t changed over the vast span of time since this world – and the universe – were created. Why would we disregard how He is represented in the Old Testament, just because its emphasis seems to be on the law, our need to be obedient, and God’s righteous justice for those who insist on disobedience and rebellion?

Recently I’ve been working my way through the “major prophets” – Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel and Ezekiel. And I have to admit, it’s sometimes difficult trudging through the chapters filled with gloom and doom. It’s more fun reading Jesus’ teachings about love and grace and forgiveness. But as Genesis 1 and John 1 clearly communicate, the God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament are one and the same. He hasn’t changed; He doesn’t have a split personality.

We worship and serve a God of love, grace and mercy. But that same God is also one of justice and judgment, hating sin every bit as strongly and perfectly as He loves His children. It’s not multiple choice. We don’t get to choose which characteristics or attributes of God we want and ignore the rest. 

The same God who said, “I will display my glory among the nations, and all the nations will see the punishment I inflict and the hand I lay up on them” (Ezekiel 39:21) is the same incarnate God who said on the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).

Is this easy for us to comprehend? Perhaps it is for you, but it’s not for me. Nevertheless, it’s right there, in black and white (and red, if you have one of those Bibles). If we’re to believe the Scriptures we must believe ALL of them, not just the parts that make us feel comfortable and unchallenged.

As 2 Timothy 3:16 instructs, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” If we need any reminders about why we need rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, all we need to do is turn to the Old Testament and read about how hard-headed and wayward were God’s chosen people, the Israelites. And if we’re honest, we’ll admit that those of us who have been grafted into the tree of Israel (Romans 11:23) aren’t much different from them.

The Real. Meaning. of Christmas.

As a society, we seem to be puzzled over so many things. For instance, in basketball, who was better: Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant or Lebron James? In football, is Tom Brady really a better quarterback than Peyton Manning or Aaron Rodgers? Is it really about global warming, climate change, or is Joe the meteorologist just a bad forecaster? 

We have the imponderables, such as who’s right, the Democrats or the Republicans? Is it really all about you – or is it all about me? Is a zebra white with black stripes, or black with white stripes? Then there’s one of the all-time classics: less filling – or tastes great?

But one topic of discussion seems to transcend them all, particularly at this time of year, is: What’s the real meaning of Christmas? If you’ve watched any of the TV specials this year – or any year – we hear this question raised again and again. And the range of answers is astounding. 

According to celebrity hosts and pontificators aplenty, Christmas is all about (take your choice): 1) getting together with friends and family; 2) love for our fellow man/woman/person; 3) sharing; 4) peace and joy and good will; 5) Santa Claus; 6) giving; 7) good food and feeling all warm and fuzzy all over. You can probably add to this list, but we have no shortage of perspectives on what Christmas means.

It’s fun spending festive, relaxing time with loved ones. Who among us is opposed to peace, joy and good will? This time of year would seem strange without jolly old Saint Nick. And when it’s cold outside, warm and fuzzy inside feels good. But isn’t it time we get this whole business cleared up? If we go straight to the source, it’s evident the real meaning of Christmas is none of the above.

Turning to where the original Christmas story is found, in the Bible, we see its meaning summed up in four words: “The Word became flesh” (John 1:14). Think about it: If Jesus hadn’t been born, we’d not be singing about wise men at this time of year. Angels would have had no reason for serenading a group of shepherds quietly watching over their sheep. Hardly anyone would have ever heard of a little town named Bethlehem. The little drummer boy would have had to play for someone else.

But it goes far beyond that. If God hadn’t chosen to come to earth in human form, we wouldn’t be dividing human history by B.C. (Before Christ) and A.D. (Anno Domini). The cross might have been cited in some obscure historic writings about ancient Roman practices, but it certainly wouldn’t have become a revered religious symbol. Most of all, we’d still be thinking about God as distant and unknowable, rather than the God who came near and desired to know us – and be known.

Perhaps Dr. Paul Brand and Philip Yancey said it best in their book, In His Image. Regarding Jesus – “the Word” who became flesh – they state He “became the visible, finite expression of the invisible, infinite, inexpressible God.” 

But why did Jesus come? This question is best answered in His own words. For instance, the Lord stated, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). In the very next verse, the One who was proclaimed to the shepherds Himself proclaimed, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep…. I know my sheep and my sheep know me – just as the Father knows me and I know the Father” (John 10:15).

For all of us who desire to know God, but have struggled to discover how that can be possible, Jesus asserted, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). The One who taught us to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39), and to “do to others as you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12), came to earth not only to teach, and serve as an example, but also to do for us what we couldn’t possibly do for ourselves. 

We were, in the words of Ephesians 2:1, “dead in [our] trespasses and sins.” How can dead people save themselves? For that reason, Jesus gave His life to atone for our sins. As Romans 5:8 declares, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 

As a result, while we envision baby Jesus receiving gifts such as gold, frankincense and myrrh from the Magi, we should also consider how from birth, He was preparing to give the greatest gift of all: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

So in a few days, as we revel in the byproducts of this season – fun, frivolity, and festivities – we would do well to consider what the Scriptures themselves tell us about the “real meaning of Christmas.” I hope you enjoy a truly merry Christmas – celebrating the Christ who started it all!

Nostalgia, Wishful Thinking and the Nativity

The Sears Wish Book peaked imaginations
for more than 60 years.

Do you remember the annual Sears Wish Book? The seasonal catalog sent sugarplums dancing around youngsters’ heads for decades. We complain when stores unveil Christmas decorations in early fall, but the Wish Book appeared in late summer, giving kids months to fantasize over what they would discover under the tree on Christmas day.

A recent newspaper article reminded me of this iconic publication that spanned 1933-1993, featuring everything from tools to telescopes, and most important…toys. It was a winter wonderland for a young person’s imagination months before the first snowflakes would appear.

The Wish Book’s now a remnant of days gone by, but thinking about it flooded me with nostalgia. It’s like watching “It’s a Wonderful Life,” the original “Miracle on 34^th Street” with little Natalie Wood, “White Christmas” with Bing Crosby and Bob Hope, and even Laurel and Hardy’s “March of the Wooden Soldiers.” They transport us to places and times far, far away, when we weren’t held captive to technology or rumors of impending social upheaval. That was too long ago!

Alas, who needs a Wish Book today when we have Amazon and the Internet? And in our skeptical age, sentiments and values portrayed in movie classics seem sentimental and sappy, hardly a match for the harsh and unsettling realities bombarding us today.

Nostalgia’s a thing of the past – literally. Some people think it’s old hat. And it’s that, too. But I say, bring it on. The more nostalgia, the merrier. Especially during the Christmas season.

"A Charlie Brown Christmas" has captivated
viewers since 1965.

Despite new recordings released every year, we smile when we hear traditional holiday tunes like “The Christmas Song,” “Jingle Bells” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” The fragrance of a fresh-cut Christmas tree evokes memories from years past, and for decades we’ve thrilled to hear hapless “Chuck” proclaim the Good News of the first Christmas to the shepherds in the fields in “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

Traditional carols remind of us what Christmas is truly about: “O Come All Ye Faithful,” “The First Noel,” “Angels We Have Heard on High,” and “Joy to the World.” The favorite of many, “Silent Night,” always draws me back to my boyhood days, attending Christmas Eve services in the Hungarian-American church in New Brunswick, N.J., where the simple tune written by Franz Gruber was simultaneously sung in both Hungarian and English.

Nothing is more nostalgic, in my view, than various depictions of the very first Christmas – Mary, Joseph and the Christ child huddled in a humble stable with cows, sheep, angels and shepherds peering over their shoulders. Ranging from simple creations that fit in the palm of a hand to cute Precious Moments renditions to elaborate Nativity scenes that are true works of art, they remind of the amazing time when “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14).

With our annual commemoration of that day nearing, let’s hope and pray that despite the turmoil and discord that seem to reign in society, we will experience the reality of this declaration: “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests'” (Luke 2:13-14).