Now What?

 

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:9-14 ESV).

 

All of us know something about rejection. Perhaps it happened on the playground when you were a child and you were the last one picked for a team. It may have come in the form of asking someone to go to the big dance and they said they had “other plans.” It could have been applying for a job that was very attractive to you only to be politely told they were looking for candidates with different qualifications or characteristics. Regardless of what the circumstances were, being told that you are not wanted is incredibly hurtful. We see that circumstance in our reading today. It caused me to ponder a bit this day after Christmas. What do we do with this baby born in Bethlehem today?

 

Some of the saddest words in the Bible are found in today’s reading: “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” “The Word became flesh,” and the Son of God “moved into the neighborhood,” but people locked their doors to shut him out. How arrogant, how dangerous, and how foolish!

 

Little has changed since John wrote those words in his gospel. Today millions of people celebrate Christmas without receiving Christ in their hearts and homes. Some shut him out of their lives because of arrogance. When I was talking about the Lord to a follower who lives in Asia, he told me that his generation, the so-called Millennials, did not need God in their lives. They were doing just fine without him. It was one of the most frustrating parts of his ministry.

 

If we find ourselves cleaning up after Christmas and simply going back to our routines, often without a thought to the difference Jesus should make in our lives, we are walking a very dangerous path (cf. John 3:18). Those who reject Jesus as Savior cannot become children of God. Imagine becoming a child of God and being allowed to call him our Father! Imagine receiving his forgiveness and the gift of eternal life! If you have celebrated Christmas this year without receiving him, please receive him today. It really is a matter of life or death!