Our Down-to-Earth God
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. Galatians 4:4-5
We do not have an absentee God, sitting in heaven while we suffer here on earth. We have a down-and-dirty God, who came down to earth, was born in a stable and laid in the feeding trough for the livestock. We have a God who got His hands dirty by touching the unclean, the least and the lowest. We have a God who did leave us here to fend for ourselves but came down into our pit of despair and led us out. There is nothing socially or emotionally distant about God because He came down to rescue us from our despair.
For every loner, every loser, everyone who feels beaten and broken, for all the freaks and geeks, the misfits and malcontents, for every poor, miserable sinner, Christ came down to earth and dwelt among us, keeping the Law, showing mercy and love to the downtrodden and the outcast, and giving His life as a ransom for all. God’s answer to humanity’s plight was to be born as a helpless baby. He doesn’t send a mighty army. He does not come in power and might, but in meekness and humility. God’s answer to humanity’s plight was the incarnation. To be born.
As we continue to marvel this Christmas season, let us not forget the lengths that Jesus came to save His people from their sins. The same God who came among us in weakness also bowed His head and died, not as a conquering hero, but as the sacrificial Lamb. God’s answer to humanity’s plight was to die, but death could not contain Him. Therefore the exalted Christ, who rose again triumphant from the grave, will come again in glory. No longer will He be coming down to us, but He will finally take us to be with Him in the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Thanks be to God for our down-to-earth God!
Prayer - Almighty God, we praise You for Your incarnation, when Your beloved Son was born of the virgin, to rescue us from the depths of our depravity. Make us mindful of the depth of Your love for us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Fraternally in Christ,
President Lee Hagan