Four Ways the Miraculous Coming of Christ Affects Our Lives
‘I did not come to judge the world but to save the world’
December is a month to celebrate the birth of Christ, which is the greatest gift God gave to the world.
We continue to honor and recognize our savior of the world because the message that Angel Gabriel gave to Mary was such a profound one. That she would give birth to the Lord our Saviour and he would save us from our sins.
After Mary gave birth and Christ was named, he was presented in the temple. While at the temple, Simeon, a god-fearing man was waiting for Israel to be saved. The Holy Spirit had come upon Simeon and told him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s promised Messiah.
When Simeon received Mary and Joseph who brought Jesus into the temple, he gave thanks to God, blessed them, and told Mary:
“This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” (Luke 2:34–35, NIV).”
Simeon’s message to Mary is significant because we know that Christ’s miraculous coming affects our lives in many ways:
- One is that we know that Jesus has come to save the world.
- Two is that God’s presence is a light that reveals to us who people really are.
- Three is the message of the gospel is not accepted by everyone.
- Four is that for those who receive the message of the Lord, it touches their heart and changes their lives forever.
1: Christ came to the world to save us
Jesus came into the world to save us. That is why Simeon told Mary, “this child is destined to cause the falling or rising of many.”
The rising is for God’s chosen people to recognize Jesus as their Lord and Savior. In recognizing that Jesus is our Lord and Saviour, we commit our lives to Christ. We become Christians and followers of Christ. To live our lives according to his will and purpose.
We rise when we live in union with Christ and wash ourselves clean from any form of sin. We become saved by living a new life in Christ.
However, for those who don’t live their lives in a way that is right by God, they are brought down. That is why we read about “the fall and the rise.”
Mary also confirmed this as she said in Luke that through her miraculous conception, God has blessed her and in her song of praise in (Luke 1, verse 52, TEV) she sings that: “he has brought down mighty kings from their thrones and lifted up the lowly.”
2: God’s presence is a light that reveals who we really are
The kingdom of God is a reflection of light. This is significant because darkness and light cannot exist at the same time.
Simeon told Mary that through Jesus, the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. The light of God reveals who people are. It reveals people’s true nature and intentions.
The light of God reveals those who have good and genuine thoughts and actions toward others as well as those who have malicious and wicked thoughts and deeds.
Through the coming of God, the light of Christ reveals those who belong to the light and the darkness.
In (John 3:20–21 , TEV), we read that “anyone who does evil things hates the light and will not come to the light, because he does not want his evil deeds to be shown up. But whoever does what is true comes to the light in order that the light may show that what he did was in obedience to God.”
3: The Coming of Christ shows that not everyone chooses to follow Him
Even though God brought his son into the world to save us, he gave us free will as to whether or not we want to accept the message of God.
Some accept the message of God and others do not. Simeon told Mary that Jesus is a sign that will be spoken against. Simeon’s message did come to pass because we know that some did attack and persecute Jesus. They rejected his message.
In (John 10: 31, TEV) we read, “then the people again picked up stones to throw at him. Jesus said to them, I have done many good deeds in your presence which the Father gave me to do; for which one of these do you want to stone me.”
Then the people said that he was speaking blasphemy because they saw him as just a man but not a God.
Christ was rejected by others because not everyone sees God for who he is but Christ said that his sheep hear his voice.
Earlier on in (John 10, verses 25–28, TEV) Jesus says: “I have already told you but you would not believe me. The things I do by my Father’s authority speak on my behalf, but you will not believe for you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me.”
4. The coming of Christ is meant to change our lives
Simeon told Mary that because of Jesus, hearts will be revealed and a “sword will pierce on your own soul too.”
If you accept and receive the word of God, it changes your life. It touches your soul. There is no one who the message of God falls under that it has not changed their life.
The way that God changes our lives is that we see the significance and meaning of Life because of him.
Through Christ’s message, we change how we live and think because we want our lives to be pleasing to God. In addition, through being saved by God, he promises us eternal life in Christ.
In (John 10, verses 28–30, TEV) we read, “I give them eternal life and they shall never die. No one can snatch them away from me. What my Father has given me is greater than everything, and no one can snatch them away from the Father’s care. The Father and I are one.”
Jesus himself says that if we accept Him as our Lord and Savior, then we will always belong to him and no one can take us away from God.
Conclusion…
The miraculous life of Christ is one that affects our lives greatly. Therefore, this December, we celebrate the birth of Christ for many reasons. We celebrate Christ because through him, he has come to save us from the world. To save us from sin.
Secondly, God’s presence is a light that reveals to us who belongs to him and who does not.
Thirdly, in the coming of Christ, we know that not everyone chooses to follow God. Some accept his message and some do not. Some persecuted Jesus but God tells us that his sheep hears his voice and they will always follow him.
Lastly, in the coming of Christ, we know that our lives will forever be changed because God says that once we belong to him and are one with him, then no one and snatch us away from his presence.
Happy Christmas!
