This time of year it is not uncommon to hear about battles over nativity scenes, Christmas greetings and other secular vs. sacred topics. This year is no different as we see new polls showing an ever increasing move toward removing Christ from the marketplace and from individual homes. There is certainly a place for that discussion, but it is NOT what this blog is about. Instead it is about something far more important.
Is it possible that we can get so caught up in the perceived attempt to rob us of our Christian faith, that we totally miss the attempts to rob us of our Christ?
After the fall of Adam and Eve, all the way back in Genesis, God told the first couple that He would provide a savior from their line of decedents. He said,
“15 And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.” Genesis 3:15 (NLT)
In other words, God was saying to satan, “I am going to send a Savior-Messiah to redeem mankind. You will bruise Him, but He will destroy you.” This prophecy is the prototype for all prophecies concerning the Messiah and it established a pattern for events throughout history.
We know from Isaiah 14 that satan (Lucifer) was among the top ranking Angels of God when he decided to execute some leadership backlash and go after God’s position. In the most pride-filled event in history, the one called the “morning star” spoke the five ultimate narcissistic statements: “I will promote myself, I will exalt myself, I will be better than others, I will be the highest of all, and I will be like God.”
Following his rebellion, satan was expelled from Heaven and cast down to the earth. He absolutely hated the people God loved and the dominion He had given people in the earth. Not only had he lost his heavenly throne, now the devil lost control of his new territory. He was determined to destroy man and was successful in getting Adam to rebel against God’s commands.
His exaltation of success didn’t last very long. Now God promised someone greater than Adam who would redeem and reclaim both the earth and the people that He loved.
Satan didn’t wait long after the prophecy was given. He very quickly went after the first kids. If he could eliminate Cain and Abel, perhaps he wouldn’t have to worry about the descendants of Adam and Eve. Once again, satan was successful at causing Cain to stumble, but still couldn’t outdo God. God sent Seth to be the forefather of Christ.
Satan is nothing if not stubborn and persistent. He corrupted mankind under Noah, but God still found a man to continue to carry the promised seed. He tried again at the tower of Babel, he made Abraham’s wife barren, he made Isaac’s wife barren, he caused Esau to try to kill Jacob (Israel), and he instigated a holocaust in Egypt as an attempt to destroy Moses as an infant. He then did the same thing through Herod, causing him to try to hunt down and kill the baby Jesus.
Over and over again, satan has demonstrated evil tenacity in the attempt to prevent and/or remove Jesus as savior and king over all the earth. He failed to stop Jesus’ birth, but he continues his attempt to prevent the fulfillment of prophecy concerning Jesus’ second coming as King of kings and Lord of lords. Additionally, he continues to do everything he can to keep us from worshiping Jesus as King and Savior in our personal lives.
One day soon, Christmas wars will grow silent and Christmas lights will go dim as the Light of the World outshines them all. Satan will realize that he has failed and will join others as every knee bows and every tongue confesses that Jesus is Lord. (Philippians 2:10-11)
Like the wisemen of old, may we bow sooner rather than later and keep the Christ of Christmas in our hearts every day of the year.
Shalom