What Do You Long For?

The song lyric's say,"'Tis the season to be jolly." For many, there is no way this is going to happen. Sickness, broken home, financial struggles. It's difficult to be jolly in situations like these.

I am reminded by God's Word what this time of year is truly about. It's so much more than gifts, food, parties, getting together with family, even more than celebrating the birth of Christ. It goes back to the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve sinned against God. Because of their disobedience they would eventually die. Until then, there would be pain for childbirth for Eve, Adam would have to plow the ground and separate the weeds from the vegetables, they and their children would experience pain physically and emotionally. They would even experience murder.

God told Satan that Jesus would bruise his head and that he would bruise Jesus' heel. This meant that Jesus would defeat Satan and the cross and death would only be temporary suffering for Jesus. At the moment Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead Satan was defeated and Genesis 3:14-15 was fulfilled. Restoration was established and God's longing for a relationship with mankind was made possible.

So you see, Christmas is not only a time of celebration of the birth of Christ but a time of rejoicing in knowing that because of His birth, death, and resurrection, you and I have what we have longed for - peace with God and the promise of spending eternity with Him.

Thanks for reading,

Pastor Gary