Thursday, December 03, 2009

Immanuel

Isaiah 7:14


Deism is the belief that God exists but cares little for his creation. He is understood to have wound up the universe like one would spin a top. After spinning the top he has taken a hands off approach ever since. So with the laws of thermodynamics in place the universe has been winding down and at some unknown future point everything will halt. True?

I will admit that on some days I feel quite alone. Things don't always make sense and my best laid plans fall apart. The Psalmist wrote, "Why, O LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?" I've heard worse questions.

To those of us who have such days I offer the word "Immanuel." It represents a Christmas truth that fights against the decay of entropy. Immanuel was first written seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus by the prophet Isaiah. He wrote, "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14). What good news this must have been for the Jewish people in a deep time of trouble. What they understood is clarified for us by Matthew as he reflected on the prophecy some years after Jesus ascended into heaven. In chapter one of his gospel account he wrote: "they will call him Immanuel--which means, 'God with us'" (vs 23).

God with us--three very small words that have such a profound meaning! God did not let the top spin down. God has not ignored us. He has not given up on humanity. And the word Immanuel represents the answer to the Psalmist's cry.

When the disciples stood with Jesus on the mountain of ascension they must have feared life without his presence. Sensing their apprehension he assured them he would not cease to be Immanuel. He said, "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:20b).

The claim of the Deist is a false one. This thought makes me stand a little straighter. It makes me want to shine light in the darkness. I'll celebrate Christmas with gusto this year because Immanuel is still with us.


Picture from http://wallpapers.free-review.net/42__Winter,_snow.htm

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