"Why do people choose the substitute over God himself? Probably the most important reason is that it obviates accountability to God. We can meet idols on our own terms because they are our own creations. They are safe, predictable, and controllable; they are, in Jeremiah's colorful language, the 'scarecrows in a cornfield' (10:5). They are portable and completely under the user's control. They offer nothing like the threat of a God who thunders from Sinai and whose providence in this world so often appears to us to be incomprehensible and dangerous . . . [People] need face only themselves. That is the appeal of idolatry."
- David F. Wells
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Imagine an army barracks overseas. Someone walks in to where the men are sleeping in the middle of the night and wakes one up. “A baby has been born to you,” the messenger says. “He is the one you’ve been waiting for.” The soldier who receives the news sits up with a start. “To me?” he says. The soldier starts waking his buddies. “Great news!”, he says. “A child has been born to us! God has given us a son!” Word spreads quickly throughout the base. It sure sounds like that soldier is a new father, doesn’t it?
Babies get born all the time. But if a baby is born to you, it’s special. Your life has just been changed forever. You call people. You send notes and baby announcements. You want everyone to know.
When I am in a hospital and hear "Brahm's Lullaby" played over the intercom I am happy for whomever just had a baby. But it's not my baby. I pause for a moment. I think, "How nice." Smile. Maybe even say a prayer for the baby and family. Then I move on.
But when each of my babies was born. I was there. And it was life-changing. Every. Single. Time. This is my baby. This is my son. He is a part of my life now and I am a part of his. He will always be my son and I will always be his dad. My life will now be reordered, rearranged and different because of him. He will be a part of who I am and I will be a part of who he is. A baby has been born "to me."
Now imagine yourself outside a small town 2,000 years ago. You see a small group of shepherds taking care of their flocks. Some are asleep, some are awake. Suddenly, someone appears out of and in the midst of a bright light. The messenger says, “Do not be afraid! I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”
Shepherds lived on the fringe of society. They were considered dirty and untrustworthy. Yet God chooses to send his first baby announcement to them!
Notice those two little, but very important words: “to you.” They do what anyone who just got news of their new baby would do. (Yes, I said, "their new baby.") They rush to go see it. Then they spread the word all over Bethlehem even though it was probably still the middle of the night.
A savior had been born to them. Not just somebody else’s savior, but their savior.
"To us a child is born, to us a son is given..." (Isaiah 9:6).The Bible says, "TO US". Think about that. In order for a child to be born to you, the child must belong to you. In the case of Christ, the only way that the child belongs to you is if you belong to him. He saves you only if he is your savior.
There are many for whom Christmas is like hearing "Brahm's Lullaby" over a hospital P.A. They stop for a moment. Think, "How nice." Smile. Say a brief prayer. Then move on with their lives. He's not their savior. He wasn't born to them.
According to the Bible, the child isn't born to you, unless you are born to him. "No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." (John 3:3). If you haven't yet been born spiritually, what are you waiting for? The savior can be your savior as he was for the shepherds.
For those who know and trust in Jesus alone, "to us a child is born, to us a son is given" should be the source of endless joy all year long. Jesus, God-in-the-flesh, born to be your savior, is life-changing. That’s what makes celebrating the birth of Jesus Merry.
(The idea for this post came from Charles Spurgeon in this sermon, A Christmas Question, which is far better (and far longer :-).
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Comments on "The Words "To You" Change Everything":
3. Cara
- 12/27/2011 5:33 pm CST
Wow, that's a really neat take on the Scripture. Of course, I've read it "how many" times in my life, and haven't really seen it that way.
It's really interesting right NOW since, as a new nurse, I'm orienting to the Maternity floor where we welcome a few new babies every day. At first, I was all starry-eyed and so excited, because I was almost re-living what it was to experience the births of my own three children, and how wonderful and impacting those moments were. Then, just as you say, it becomes a "how nice" and carry on with the day and its tasks. It really is the "to you" that makes a birth something that is so emotionally imprinting that you just don't forget it. How incredible that I've never noticed the language God chose for his Angels to speak... he was born TO US! Wow. Thanks, I don't doubt that God is trying to sink that into my heart this year.
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Praise the Lord! Immanuel!
Great post, Phil!