Although God is omnipresent throughout the created universe, His essence is something utterly different from His creation. He is an almighty, all-powerful being beyond the capabilities of our minds to even remotely understand or relate to.
He created the universe, knowing that we would choose pride and self-exaltation over loving and trusting God and obeying His precepts. Through disobedience, sin entered the world and destroyed the relationship that God had created with humanity.
But God had a plan to restore that relationship by entering into His creation, becoming one of us so that we could ultimately become one with Him.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:1-5 ESV)
Right from the beginning, God foretold of His plan through the prophets in over 400 prophecies made available to us in the Old Testament. Today, I will highlight one in the book of Matthew, from Isaiah 7:14.
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). (Matthew 1:23 ESV)
This was fulfilled when Mary gave birth to Jesus.
The Birth of Jesus Christ
2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.[c]
The Shepherds and the Angels
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.(Luke 2:2-21 ESV)
Jesus lived a life free of sin to become the perfect sacrifice to pay the penalty for the sins of all, thus reconciling the relationship we have with God.
He did not enter into creation merely to come and then go, but to lay the groundwork for an eternal relationship with us, that we can forever say, “God with us.”
Let’s now live our lives in such a way that enhances that relationship. Make purposeful interaction with God a daily priority and include Him in every aspect of our lives.
This world is a temporary illusion of finality. Our souls are destined for an eternal abode in either heaven or hell, depending on each one’s response to God’s gift of salvation through Jesus.
Choose Jesus today, and live for Him. God is with us.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.
Eternity in View 