Credit where credit is due: Adapted from a sermon titled,
“The Imperfections of Christmas” by John Garlock
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28 — New American Standard Bible).
I particularly like the NASB rendering of this passage. In it I see that God Himself is the one who “causes” all things to work together.
I once said that God was a great opportunist, and someone got angry at me for saying that. I do realize that, typically, being an “opportunist” is a negative thing; it generally means that one will adapt to a situation for personal expediency at the expense of ethical principles. Yet, that is obviously not the nuance I intended. I meant only that no matter the situation, God can “cause is all to work together for good.” Doesn’t Paul agree with that in Romans 8:28?
Also, for another witness, Joseph said,
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20 — New International Version).
Less-than-ideal Elements of the first Christmas With this in mind, I would like to take a few moments to consider with you some of what has been perceived as less-than-ideal elements that were a part of the first Christmas.
In our Christian lives we face so many hard situations that we may find ourselves asking, “If God is really in this situation, then why are things so difficult?”
We all know that God is in control, but if we are honest with ourselves, we sometimes wonder. I mean, after all, if God really has control of the situation, then why is everything so messed up? We’ve all been there.
How many times have we said: “God if you were really in this . . .”
But when it does not appear that God is in the situations in our lives, those are the best times to pull "faith off the shelf, dust it off," and begin to use it.
The First Christmas had its share of imperfections, but who would dare say that God was not in it, or in control?
Imperfect Timing Mary knew that her first child was coming. The angel had announced. Therefore, it is easy to imagine Mary praying and asking God to allow the child to be born either before they take that long donkey ride or after they have arrived home from taking the census.
But, instead, the birth of the Christ Child takes place at the end of their long trip, far away from home and familiar securities. Have you ever been away from home on a vacation or business trip and you became ill? I know when I don’t feel well, I’d rather be home. It’s just nice to be home, secure, and comfortable. I doubt that Mary was any different. And remember she was quite young, making it all the more difficult to be so far from home during such an important event.
I can imagine Mary praying, “God, if you were really in this birth, you surely could have picked better circumstances than these.”
Have you ever felt that God was not in your circumstances because you felt that God would not have allowed such “bad” timing?
But God can use imperfect timing for His perfect results, just as He did in Bethlehem. Someone has well said that, “God of course is never late, but I have noticed that He passes up a lot of good chances to be early.”
Imperfect Facilities This is rather obvious because Jesus was born in a stable. I do not know of an expectant mother who aspires to give birth in a stable.
What would we do if we were given the task of preparing a place for the Christ Child to be born? Think of it: We would have the best facilities and the best doctors. But God gave to Mary and Joseph a stable.
Do you have an inadequate or imperfect church? home? car? We may say, “If God really loved me, I would have a better this or that.” Did God love Mary? Joseph? Did He love His Only Begotten Son? Yes, indeed. And He gave Him only a stable to be born in. God used an imperfect place and imperfect facilities for His perfect result. And, He can do the same with imperfect things in your life.
Imperfect Audience Recently I heard a choir at a local church, and they sang rather well. But could you imagine what it would sound like to hear an Angelic choir? They would undoubtedly make our earthly choirs sound like screeching tires and breaking glass. Imagine for a second what a choir would sound like that had received its vocal training in heaven’s courts. Have you ever noticed, I am sure you have, that the better the choir the better the audience? Yet God sends His heavenly choir to earth to sing of the Savior’s birth and who is the audience that is hand picked by God to be the recipients of the heavenly music? Shepherds. Not even musicians. Men whose ears are bombarded daily with the bleating of sheep!
Have you (this is mostly for the pastors/teachers out there) ever felt that the “great wisdom” that you share with others is falling on deaf ears? Do you have an imperfect audience? Note well that it was lowly shepherds whom God chose to hear the great news of the Savior’s birth from the lips of the angels. An imperfect audience, yet perfect according to God’s plan.
Imperfect Security Then, later, Joseph had to flee to Egypt so that the Child would not be killed. Remember Herod wanted to destroy the Child. Okay, wait a minute. God could have had a better plan than this don’t you think? Why should the Son of the Living God have to be hidden from a mad man? Surely God could have just made Jesus invisible or something. Or God could have dispatched His War Angels to stand guard around His Child to protect Him so that Joseph and Mary would not have to sneak away under the cloak of night to escape from Herod. Or, better yet, why not just “ice” that old pain in the dessert?
But God used the imperfect security to accomplish His perfect plan, and through this act of night-time escape a Scripture was fulfilled, “Out of Egypt I have called my Son” (Matthew 2:15).
Summary
If God could use all of the imperfections of the First Christmas to His advantage and to fulfill His perfect will, if He could use all of the imperfections of the First Christmas to bring about the greatest event in the history of man, the Birth of the Son of God, certainly He is big enough, and in control enough to use the imperfections in our lives to accomplish His perfect results.
So What About You?
So what are you struggling with this Christmas season? Imperfect Timing? Imperfect Facilities? Imperfect Audience? Imperfect Guidance? Imperfect Foresight? Imperfect Security? Maybe you are struggling with other imperfections that I haven’t mentioned. Let’s see, imperfect spouse? Imperfect parents? Imperfect kids? Imperfect job? Imperfect pastor? Imperfect professor? Imperfect self?
Whatever your imperfections are this holiday season, bring them to God in prayer, and allow Him to take control. Ask Him to use the imperfections around you to bring about His perfect results.
So, from one very imperfect person to another, Merry Christmas to you, and may you see that God can and is willing to use all the imperfections in your life to bring about His perfect will for your life.
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:6-14).
Send comments about this, or any, Coffee Talk to Rick Walston at: CES - @ - ColumbiaSeminary.edu
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