During the Christmas season, we do our best to make everything look beautiful. We put up lights, we listen to music with bells and nostalgic chord progressions. As a culture, all of our hopes and dreams get mashed together in the month of December. We look forward to presents and to food with our families. Perhaps you are physically in work but in your mind and your heart you are driving home for Christmas…
The glory of the created
Qoheleth, the Preacher of Ecclesiastes, knows that sentiment well. In the opening song of his book, he writes:
The sun rises, and the sun goes down,
Eccl. 1:5-6
And hastens to the place where it rises.
The wind blows to the south
and goes around to the north;
around and around goes the wind,
and on its circuits the wind returns.
He writes of the rhythms of nature. He can see what Disney’s Pocahontas calls “the colours of the wind”. He observes creation and it is indeed beautiful. I grew up in the desert with access to the most breathtaking sunsets and sunrises that you could possibly imagine.
And yet…
All streams run to the sea,
Eccl. 1:7-9
but the sea is not full…
the eye is not satisfied with seeing,
nor the ear filled with hearing.
What has been is what will be,
and what has been done is what will be done,
and there is nothing new under the sun. (Eccl. 1:7-9)
Ultimately, the cycles of life on earth can only be truly beautiful if you first understand that there is a greater reality beyond them.
The glory of the Creator
Yesterday, Alistair brought God’s word to us and demonstrated from John’s gospel that Jesus is the one who created all things.
He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.
John 1:2-3
John the Evangelist opens his gospel with the bold statement that the one he is writing about is not mere man but is God Incarnate. That the one who will go to the cross in chapter 19 is the one who created all things in chapter 1.
If we try to find our greatest satisfaction in created things, then we are going to be miserable. Beauty fades, strength wanes, even our best science tells us that the whole of the cosmos is headed for an eventual heat death when matter will cease to matter. That is the gospel the world would give us.
Yet, Jesus teaches us that all that is made was made by him (John 1:3), belongs to him (Rev. 1:17), and will be restored by him (Col. 1:19-20).
This Advent, look to the one who promises and delivers true satisfaction and joy. He offers you hope forever in him.
All blessings,
Pastor Dan
Notices
Two big notices this week.
First, as mentioned in a previous newsletter, the elders are continuing to meet to pray for the church. If you have a particular prayer need that you would like us to bring to the Lord, you can email the team. Your requests will not be shared outside of the elder team.
Second, this Sunday (14 Dec, 6pm) we will have our Blue Christmas service. This is a special, quiet gathering for those who are struggling in any way at this time of year. Perhaps you are struggling with seasonal depression or financial struggles or bereavement. Blue Christmas is an opportunity to be reminded of Jesus, who himself was called the Man of Sorrows. If you are or know someone who could do with a break from the constant pressure to be positive and happy at Christmas, this is a service for you.