Emmanuel

Advent is in full swing and on the Church calendar we are looking forward as we look back to the arrival of Jesus.  This year has added expectation for our family as we look forward to an extra person joining us and continue a seven month search for a house.  Many times for me expectation is accompanied by uncertainty.  This uncertainty often reveals how shallow my faith runs because I am placing my hope in things on earth such as a clean, orderly house; a healthy baby boy; prettily placed Christmas decorations; and a completed nursery.  None of these are bad things in themselves but when I end up twisted out of shape because I have no certainty of any of these things happening, I find my hope in the things rather than the Giver.

This year, maybe due to events that declare the darkness of this sin-twisted world and our own hearts, I am delighting more in the birth of Jesus.  The Creator of the universe, the King of kings, worshipped by angels and archangels, Sovereign Ruler, 100% God who chose to become 100% man and be born in the blood, cries, filth, and humility of barn to a nothing couple.  Even his choosing to be born, an event that was in itself cursed by the Fall, rather than him only appearing, amazes me.

God is not aloof to the suffering, brokenness, and sinfulness to this dark world we live in.  He came, the Emmanuel, God with us, and experienced to the full our sadness and temptation.  He entered it, experienced it, accepted the judgement and wrath for it on the Cross all to conquer it and bring us peace with him and great hope in the darkness.  He dwelt with us and all of our grossness.  God is not separate or "other" from us in suffering and brokenness.  He is our Emmanuel and came to make all things new.  This truth brings a far deeper hope this Christmas than anything the world can offer.