The Story Begins

The Story Begins

Christmas was, and is, in many ways the beginning of a story. Certainly it was more like the addition of a main plot line, as The Story began well before Christ was born in the muck of a stable, to poor parents in the dead of night, without any medical insurance. But it began the phase of The Story where a mind-blowing plot twist takes off. God becomes a man. Talk about an unexpected, covert arrival of the hero.

But now, with that plot line of The Story complete, one of the real questions for all of us at Christmas is: Was I in it? Or rather, am I in it? Am I in The Story? The plot twist of Christmas, the part where the Creator of the universe, perfect and incapable of abiding injustice, actually puts on our stinky flesh and suffers the brokenness of our world, the product of our rebellion, was not simply to add intrigue or keep you guessing. It was for a very specific purpose.

Two thousand years later, we now sing about why that dramatic, back-bending plot twist took place. You may know the words, maybe even from Charlie Brown Christmas?

Hail the heaven born Prince of Peace! Hail the Son of Righteousness
Light and life to all He brings, risen with healing in his wings
Mild he lays his glory by, born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth
Hark! The Herald angels sing: “Glory to the newborn King”

God's the ultimate epic author. Christmas was a really good chapter, but The Story He has written is still being read, and no one has reached the ending. Find yourself in it. You are there. And when you find yourself, take stock of your character's role. Regardless of who you are, that little baby, the Hero of us all, took the plunge from his throne in Heaven, "mildly laying his glory by," . . . for you, and for me.

There's no box or bag that can contain this gift. All you have to do it receive it.

Merry Christmas.