Richelle E. Goodrich, an American author once remarked: “New light in the sky announces a sacred birth. Shine brightly young star. Hallelujah song carries on a gentle wind, heralding a king. Shepherds lift their heads, not to gaze at a new light but to hear angels. ‘Unto you is born in the city of David a Savior for all." Born on straw at night under low stable rafters, Baby Jesus cried. Sheep and goats and cows gather 'round a manger bed to awe at a babe. Wise men come to see a child of greater wisdom and honor divine. Rare and precious gifts, gold and myrrh and frankincense, to offer a king. Mary and Joseph huddle snugly together. They cradle God's son. On this wise He came, the Son of God to the earth. A humble wonder.’” Isaiah 9:1-7 reminds us: “But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”
Birth is generally defined as the emergence of a baby or other young from the body of its mother. It encompasses the start of life as a physically separate being. But what if that new birth is one of sacredness? A solitary star shines brightly in the sky, greater than any other. It hallmarks a significant birth, not one of humanity, but of divinity. It is a guiding light that pinnacles a humble stable where a sacred birth has taken place. A parturition that is destined to change the world. There is no grandeur portrayed in this nascency, no fanfare proclaims a special arrival, merely humbleness. Humility is the true essence in glory.
A new-born child lying in a manger appears like any other. It kicks its feet, it gurgles as most happy babies do. One could not tell the difference, but there is a significant one, because this child is the wonder of God in human form. God has given Himself for the benefit of mankind. Matthew 1:18-25 confirms: “Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.
And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.”
This is a divine present, that is unable to be superseded by any other. Only God can provide a gift of this importance and magnitude. It was given only once, over two thousand years ago with love and has not been repeated to date. Psalm 127:3-5 reminds us: “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.”
Many doubters have refuted the probability that God exists. They maintain that there are no viable facts to substantiate His existence, and that one should only believe in things where there is good or reliable evidence. However, evidence can also be a fact of past experiences. Trust, similarly, is an important factor of life. Trust is not a substance, it is a belief. We can believe both in others and ourselves. Although it must be said that not everything can be regarded to hold value unless it is successful in its application or purpose.
Misconception can prevail where it should not. Some sadly fail to take into consideration that many everyday things that are taken for granted are based on trust alone. If we appraise the United States currency notes and coinage as a theoretical example, there is no guarantee that any are actually worth the value stated on them, only an assumption or trust that if presented, they will be accepted and exchanged for an equal worth in goods. Because this theory and trust has always prevailed, it is assumed that it always will. The same applies to God. Trust is also often based on past experiences. Incidentally, on one side of every dollar bill, no matter what its value, and the Treasury issued coinage is the inscription: “In God We Trust” which is the official motto of the United States and backed by both its government and people. If bank notes, and coinage can be issued with this inscription and accepted without physical proof of an existence, why not the feasibility of God?
Alan Hirsch, an Australian author once remarked: “If we're going to impact our world in the name of Jesus, it will be because people like you and me took action in the power of the Spirit. Ever since the mission and ministry of Jesus, God has never stopped calling for a movement of "Little Jesuses" to follow him into the world and unleash the remarkable redemptive genius that lies in the very message we carry. Given the situation of the Church in the West, much will now depend on whether we are willing to break out of a stifling herd instinct and find God again in the context of the advancing kingdom of God.” Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Forming new life is a complex and time-consuming process that usually ends in great joy and gratitude. Sometimes this special event is overlooked or not regarded as a precious gift from God. However, we should remember that all life is breathed out from God. Genesis 2:7 confirms: “Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.”
The Bible informs us that the universe and everything in it was created by the Almighty one, and as such the life we all live is at the pleasure of God and Him alone. Our thanks should always be to Him in the first choice, before another. Psalm 139:13-16 confirms: “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”
Amen.
