The message of the good news of Jesus Christ, the story of Christmas, begins with this truth: God loves you.
It is a most amazing truth. It defines your very existence. You were made to live forever in God’s love. Read that sentence again; You were made to live forever in God’s love. That truth is the source from which your life flows.
Our beautiful river, the west branch of the mighty Susquehanna, rises just outside the borough of Carrolltown in Cambria County, Pennsylvania. It travels for approximately 220 miles before flowing through our scenic valley. If you follow our river back to its starting point, you will always arrive at Carrolltown, Pennsylvania. Always.
My friend, your life rises out of God’s forever love for you. No matter how far you travel, regardless of how much time goes by, the source of your life will always be the forever love of God.
It is a most extraordinary thought. The God of all creation loves you. He loves me. Forever.
I’m not sure I can get my arms around it. My mind seems incapable of containing the full majesty of it. When I try, I find myself grasping for words and feeling much like King David when he wrote, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.” Psalm 139:6.
God knew it would be too much for us, so instead of simply saying how much He loves us, He turned His words into flesh by sending His one and only Son to live with us – and to die for us. It is the highest expression of love we humans can comprehend. If you’re a parent, you understand what I’m saying.
Jesus said the greatest expression of love is to lay down our life for our friend – and then He did it. For a man who had no children, that statement was true. But as a father, I can assure you; there is one greater expression of love: laying down the life of your child for a friend.
I have two sons and a daughter-in-law. If I were ever called upon to lay down my life for you, I pray God would give me the courage and the strength to do so. But know this, if I am ever called upon to lay down one of my children’s lives for you, well, I’m afraid you would be out of luck. As a father, I would rather die myself than choose to have my son or daughter die for you. Ask any parent, and they’ll tell you the same. There is no higher expression of love.
That’s why God sent His Son. He wanted you and me to be able to comprehend, in the most extravagant way possible, just how much He loves us.
The celebration of Christmas is a lot of things. It is trees and lights and presents and Santa and shredded wrapping paper and, well, all of the wonderful traditions we will enjoy in the days to come. It’s all good.
But know this, Christmas itself is only one thing; it is God’s declaration being heralded throughout the vast expanses of time and space, “I love you!”
If you are not living in His love, then my guess is that you have traveled up a tributary, an enticing brook that fooled you into thinking it was the source of life. There are a lot of tricky little tributaries out there. They look promising, but they always dry up or peter out. They always disappoint.
Some people follow the tributary of power. Others seek fame. Some try to escape through a vast array of destructive pursuits that lead only to loss and pain. Others find excuses and wallow in the tributary of victimhood. Some fall for lesser forms of love and find themselves used, abused, broken, and alone. Does all of this sound familiar to you? Does it feel like you’ve spent your entire life following little tributaries that simply dry up?
If that’s you, then I have good news for you. The source of your life is flowing as strong today as ever. God’s forever love for you has never diminished – and it never will. Do you believe it? If you are willing to believe, then you will be traveling in the deep and unending source of love – a love giving true meaning and purpose to life.
Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16.
Paul wrote, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Jesus died for us.” Romans 5:8.
John wrote, “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God . . .” John 1:12.
Even before we were born, God had already determined His love for us. You can’t earn it, and you can’t lose it. He loves you. Period. He always has, and He always will. You are His child.
My Christmas prayer for you:
“Heavenly Father, please bless my dear friend with the knowledge of Your full and unconditional love. Allow their heart to receive it and to fully rest in it. Allow their mind to find peace in Your mercy and grace. If anything stands in the way, any guilt or regret or confusion or bitterness or sin, then please help them to acknowledge it freely and openly to You. As they do, let Your mercy and grace flow abundantly until they are fully captivated by the strong and deep current of Your love. Quiet the voices of rejection. Calm the storms of fear. Clear away the fog of doubt. Awaken them to the infilling presence of Your Holy Spirit, assuring them that they are a child of God. Thank You for hearing my prayer and for setting my friend free. May they live forever in Your peace, joy, and love. Amen.”
From the Hartzell home to yours – God loves you! And Merry Christmas!
