“Born to Die”

“Only seven more sleeps.” That’s how we would describe it to our boys when they were much younger. Only seven more sleeps until Christmas Day. We had a calendar that had pockets for each day of the month, and a little mouse that we would move each morning to show the boys how close it was until the special day. I remember one year my youngest got up early and moved the mouse several days forward. He truly thought that moving that mouse would make it so. Christmas would come early.

Well, we all know it does not work that way. For those of us who are older, the days, weeks, months, and even years, seem to fly by on the wind. I mean, this Sunday my wife and I will have been married 45 years. It just does not seem possible, and yet the man I see in the mirror is clearly, shall we say, much more distinguished, than the man in the picture taken on that day in 1979.

But for children, the days seem to creep slowly forward. There is nothing worse than having to be patient. Finishing the semester of school, and even then having to wait several more days. Oh, will it ever get here!

Think of that first Christmas. Mary and Joseph have travelled from Nazareth to Bethlehem. They were alone and afraid, probably hoping they could get back to their hometown before the baby was born. But God had other plans. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, placed in an animal’s feeding trough, and the world would never be the same.

Jesus’ birth was unlike any other. First, he was conceived in a miraculous manner. Then His birth was announced by angels, attended by shepherds, and considered a threat by the Roman king. But of course, His life and death were also unlike any other. He was perfectly sinless. And He died in our place.

In the midst of the celebrations of Jesus’ birth, let us not forget this important truth. He was born to die. His purpose was to offer us forgiveness and salvation. And for that we give thanks and praise. God is so good. Christmas is certainly one proof of this.