Making Sense of Christmas ... Is 8:19 - 9:7
Introduction:
Life Coaching is big business BUT it is not new. Over two and half thousand years ago Isaiah wrote to a people who also sought an empowerment for an improved life.
Mediums mutter and spiritists whisper, he writes. People inquire of the dead from the land of the living (8:19). Those who live in the light of day curiously pursue counsel from those whose entire existence is in utter darkness.
Ill misinformation can only result for those who seek light from darkness. Darkness can not teach about light any more than a tone deaf person teach singing, or a mute teach speech. These lives are quickly delivered into distress, and then they will blame God. (8:21)
With wild eyes veiled to the truth they will scan the earth, see it's troubles and feel its suffering. Their end can only be the darkness they sought for counsel.
Yet, God has not spoken in secret nor is He inactive.(Is 48:16-17) He has provided correct counsel, even for those who would so unfairly blame Him.
Distress He sees, death He knows. Christmas is heaven bellowing into the darkness of life - "there is LIGHT, I am here!"
In a world of gloom God is not absent, Christmas cries - 'God has entered!' There is now a life coach from light. Jesus had to come to shine His light into the world's darkness.
THE BOOM FROM THE GLOOM
The Throne of Grace is placed so eternally beyond the grasp of mere mortals. It looks down upon each human's activity, despairing, then delighting and then despairing again.
He sees lives lived randomly and recklessly, no correct compass sought and none stumbled upon. With sad eyes of love He fully knows He is so needed.
Is 8:19-9:1 has so clearly shown what walking in darkness looks like in the land of the living. Christmas is God acting through a babe (The Light of the World) to introduce light to people who walk in darkness, and even consult darkness.
This darkness is still thick, it's malaise still remains. However penetrating the darkness for 2 millennia now is the mercy and truth that The Light beams.
Christmas is God knowing He is blamed for the gloom of this world, but deciding to return blame with blessings. God now defeats burdens and blame with a baby.
Through a manger, a stable and its total human insignificance God acts peacefully and lovingly to replace the shadow of death with the dawn of light.(9:2) Rays of joy are now available(v3) as burdens are removed.. Burdens that are multiplied in wrong counsel no longer need to be received or endured.
The rage and anger towards God in 8:21 is now the increased joy, subsequent to the experience of receiving light.
V4 speaks of burdens lifted and battles quelled as God's new world order. The remnants of war now lost and forgotten.(v5). Both darkness and death God has severed through one individual. A mere infant at that!
Surely God is a 'surprizer'! Through His Christmas intervention God BOOMS there is now a baby, 'A Life Coach' with light. This baby life coach:
- gives only good rule,
- teaches good guidance alone,
- is mighty (not weak like powerless darkness),
- establishes an eternally good fatherhood and
- introduces the rule of peace (see vs 6-7).
Christmas is God initiating from the Throne of Grace His rescue plans to seed light in darkness and life in death. He completes all His plans, they can never be hindered or prevented.
Conclusion
Christmas is heaven's righteous response to the blame game levelled at Him and the counsel seeking of this world.
The answer to the darkness, distress and death of this world is still the life and light of a baby.
Christmas is the perfect time to hear and receive His good 'boom' permitting it to enter and dispel my dispiriting 'gloom'.
Christmas freely presents this earth with the only life coach who can actually give life.
