“Home Alone” “Home Alone 2”
When watching these films from the “Home Alone” movie franchise there is a certain joy we experience when Kevin is reunited with his family and that should remind us of the reconciliation with God that we can experience because of the first Christmas. But, let us be clear that there are some things we do not want to take away from this holiday favorite. God has not accidentally left us behind…alone on this planet. He did not create us and set this world in motion and go on vacation without us. We did not get on the wrong plane and end up in the wrong city. The truth of the matter is that God has always been with us…even before that first Christmas event. Yes, it was at the first Christmas in Bethlehem that the “Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). Yes, Jesus was born at a specific time…in a specific place, but that is not when God finally showed up.
In other words, Christmas isn’t about God finally finding us…it is about us finding God. It is about God making Himself known to us…seeing our Father who has been here all along. The Scripture tells us that God has always been with us. He is Emmanuel…”God with us”. Christmas was not about God coming back after forgetting us. It is a revelation of the Truth that God has always been here…always been watching over us…always available to help…always loving us…and always making Himself known to us!
The Psalmist wrote long before Jesus was born, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). The testimony of Scripture is clear. God has always been here and active in wooing His creation back into relationship with Himself. The birth of Jesus was simply the ultimate and clearest revelation of the Truth that God is here…God loves you. He loves you so much that He came and walked on this earth…spoke the language…ate the food…experienced grief and pain. Why? To make sure you knew that He understands where you are coming from. He can say, “Been there. Done that”.
Christmas means that God doesn’t just love us from afar…He loves us “up close and personal”. He is a Father who is willing to climb into our messy world…our messy lives and love us right where we are. Do you feel like you have been left behind. Like, maybe God has forgotten about you and left you home alone. Be assured…He has not forgotten you or left you. In fact, He knows where you are and wants to reveal Himself to you.
That’s the message of Christmas!