God Came Near

It all happened in a moment, a most remarkable moment. If you could somehow pick it up off the timeline and examine it, it would look exactly like the ones that have passed while you have read these words. It came and it went. it was preceded and succeeded by others just like it. But in reality, that particular moment was like none other. Divinity Arrived. Heaven opened herself up and placed her most precious one in a human womb.

The omnipotent, in one instant, made himself breakable. He who had been spirit became pierceable. He who was larger than the universe became an embryo. And he who sustains the world with a word chose to be dependent upon the nourishment of a young girl.

God as a fetus. Holiness sleeping in a womb. The creator of life being created.

God was given eyebrows, elbows, two kidneys, and a spleen. He stretched against the walls and floated in the amniotic fluids of his mother.

GOD HAD COME NEAR!

He came, not as a flash of light or as an unapproachable conqueror, but as one whose first cries were heard by a peasant girl and a sleepy carpenter. The hands that first held him were unmanicured, calloused, and dirty.

No silk. No ivory. No hype. No party. No hoopla. Were it not for the shepherds, there would have been no reception. And were it not for a group of star-gazers, there would have been no gifts. One thing's for sure: He was, while completely divine, completely human.

For thirty three years he would feel everything you and I have ever felt. He felt weak. He grew weary. He was afraid of failure. He was susceptible to wooing women. He got colds, burped, and had body odor. His feelings got hurt. His feet got tired. And his head ached. To think of JESUS in such a light is -- well, it seems almost irreverent, doesn't it? It's not something we like to do; it's uncomfortable. It is much easier to keep the HUMANITY out of the INCARNATION. Clean the manure from around the manger. Wipe the sweat out of his eyes. Pretend he never snored or blew his nose. He's easier to stomach that way.

Please listen... there is something about keeping him DIVINE that keeps him Distant, Packaged, Predictable. But... DON'T DO IT! For heaven's sake, DON'T! Let him be as human as he intended to be. Let him into the mire and muck of our world. For only if we let him in can he pull us out!

It all happened in a moment. In one moment... a most remarkable moment. The Word came flesh!

There will be another. The world will see another instantaneous transformation. You see, in becoming man, God made it possible for man to see God! When Jesus went home - he left the back door open! As a result, "we shall all be changed -- in a MOMENT, in the twinkling of an eye."

The first MOMENT of Transformation went unnoticed by the world. But you bet your sweet self that the second one WON'T! The next time you use the phrase... 'Just a MOMENT...' -- remember that's all the time it will take to change the world!

~Max Lucado / God Came Near~