But as the title says, "life happens." I get busy on one thing and I forget something else. Or something unexpected happens such as recently. I had two church members pass away on back to back days. I then had funerals on back to back days. And suddenly three weeks of past, or more.
I'm glad that God does not work this way. He never gets too busy to hear me or to attend to my needs. In fact, he knows what I need before I even ask. Still he wants me to ask so that I remember how badly I need him. Fortunately, he never forgets this fact.
Thankfully, God is never too busy. I mean, think how crazy it would be if God were so busy focusing on tomorrow's sunrise that HE forgot about gravity. Of course, if HE did forget about gravity, the snow would not be falling outside right now.
But I love snow. It looks so pretty outside my window. And as long as it is there and I am in here I'm good.
But really, I do love looking out of the snow. It makes everything look so nice and fresh and clean. At least until it gets plowed seven or eight times and there's been sand and chemicals put on it, and everything starts to lookbrown and ugly, including my car.
Seriously, though, snow always reminds me of what God says, through the prophet Isaiah, chapter 1, verse 18. "Though your sins, be like scarlet, they shall be white as snow." Our sin defiles us. God is going to cleanse us. We can't do it so he must.
I am also reminded them of Revelation chapter 7, where John sees a multitude, before the throne of God, dressed in white robes. John is told that this multitude are those who have come out of the great tribulation, whose robes have been cleansed, made white in the blood of the lamb, Christ Jesus.
It requires the blood of Christ to cleanse me of my sin, and to cleanse you of yours. There is no other way. And there is something that we should always remember during this advent and Christmas season. Because that is what is truly behind Christmas; Christ shedding his blood. Behind all the nostalgic, greeting cards of manger scenes, of shepherds, and angels, and of guiding stars, there is the blood of Christ.
The child, who will be wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger, has come to die. It will not come immediately, his death, but rather at exactly the time, and in the manner that God, that Christ, how determined before the creation of the world; outside ancient Jerusalem on an ugly and brutal Roman cross. That was the price Jesus was willing to pay to cleanse you and cleanse me of our sins.
Yes, life happens. It is my prayer that yours will not be too busy during this holy day season to focus some of your energy and your time upon Christ, who gave his life for you. Or better still, focus on HIM at all times.
To God alone be the glory. Amen.
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