(x)wisdom

'Tis the season for remembrance and gift giving. Yet, as I set out this Christmas time to bless those that I love, I find myself wondering, "What do they need? What do they want? And, can I afford it?"

I suppose this all might sound a bit analytical but I've come to realize that in most cases the best thing I can offer are encouraging words in the form of analysis, diagnosis, and prescription. So, given all that, how can I most bless you this Christmas? I suppose I could write a poem or a song. Perhaps I could make a craft for you, or buy you the perfect gift. Or maybe I could do for you what comes most natural for me.

Allow me to start with a fundamental question. What do we humans need the most? After all, if we fail to diagnose our basic problem then can we ever hope to recognize the proper solution?

Theologian D.A. Carson recently said,

"If you're a Marxist, what you need most are revolutionaries and decent economists. If you're a Psychologist, what you need is an army of counselors. If you think that the root of all human malfunction and disorder is medical, what you need is endless numbers of Mayo clinics. 

"But if our first and most serious need is to be reconciled to God--a God who stands against us and pronounces death upon us because of our willfully chosen rebellion--then what we need the MOST is a Savior."

You see, the main problem for humans is not that we fail to share the wealth, or that we think to lowly of ourselves, or even that we have physiological defects, though these may be issues for us. It is that the our Creator, the one who made us and defined the relationship between Him and all humankind, stands against us because we willfully seek to dethrone Him. In a word, our main problem is our idolatry. We need to be reconciled and re-calibrated. We need a savior and someone to change our hearts. We need Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

The amazing thing about this state of affairs is that while we were still shaking our fists at God for telling us how things are, He came to Earth and was born as a baby. He came for the express purpose of dying for us to reconcile us and forgive our heinous sin against him. And, for those who will believe this, He has promised to re-calibrate our affections by indwelling us with His Holy Spirit, who will convict us, lead us to repentance, and inspire us to act out of love for our Savior and Redeemer.

You see, on Christmas all those years ago, the very God who stood against us stood among us so it would be possible to come to Him.

For those of you who find what I have said to be uncomfortable, perhaps it sounds like quackery to you, I understand. But let me encourage you to invest a little time evaluating your most fundamental problem. One way I would encourage you to do this is to spend the next fourteen days watching The God Who is There, a series of online videos by D.A. Carson. This could be the most valuable gift you ever receive.

For those of you who are already trusting in Christ for salvation I hope my words encourage you and deepen your love and reverence for Jesus during the celebration of His birth.

For all of you, I wish you a Merry Christmas.