It seems like a fairy tale, doesn’t it?
A God who created all that there is including you and me looks down upon our lack of moral character and decides the only hope is to inject himself into humanity to save it from itself.
The cost of this effort? His son. Because moral failing is an anathema to all that is good, and we are objectively not good by nature.
God’s son’s death is the sentence for our high crimes and misdemeanors writ large.
And like us, Jesus, God’s son, comes as a child—a newborn with all the necessities for care and provision.
As he grows, he begins to find his footing and his purpose, a deferential willingness to be our substitute for sin.
Post crucifixion he remarkably appears to many and proclaims a new era of God’s grace and favor toward humanity.
The result? If we believe this to be true, the whole story, and willingly confess and submit to God’s authority and benevolence, then a restoration to eternal life and bliss awaits us postmortem.
I like the story and find it is not nearly as far fetched as believing the entirety of existence just spontaneously emerged.
Compelling truisms are present as well.
I find that all people, including me, have a penchant for moral depravity. Check box one.
I also accept that none other than God could potentially rescue me from my condition. Check box two.
I further acknowledge that, although the accounts are relatively ancient, evidence is present to affirm Jesus’ resurrection. Check box three.
The only part that I must take on faith is whether I am truly acceptable because of Jesus’ substitution for my moral crimes.
I take comfort in the Apostle Paul’s writings.
Romans 8:1-2 states, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”
I also appreciate Paul’s self-awareness and internal conflict when he says, “So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
This Christmas season is a time for reflection. It is a given time to consider whether the story true rings true or not. Does it check all the boxes?
The promise of Christmas is hope, peace, joy, and love, as in found in God’s concern for us in his son.
Apart from God, how could we possibly check these boxes?
Kent Simmons is the pastor of Canyon Community Church in Kingman, AZ.
