It's Christmas Eve 2021. As I write this blog, I am sitting in the exact same place that I was two years ago on Christmas Eve 2019, the front porch of my in-law's house in Northeast Mississippi. However, things aren't the same as they were two years ago, not even close. I don't have to go down the list of how things have drastically changed both in America and abroad. There won't be a single person who reads this blog that hasn't been affected by all of the fall out from Covid in one way or another.
Now that we are two years into this, sometimes I wonder if we really even recognize how much we have been affected by everything that has transpired. However, the overall theme seems to be FEAR. Many are afraid of death. So it's understandable that they fear the virus, which has had a steady stream of attention from every available media source non-stop for two years. Others fear the lock downs, economic repercussions and the loss of their freedoms. While conservatives and progressives may have a different list of things that they are afraid of, make no mistake, both sides are afraid. According to a KFF survey, "During the pandemic, about 4 in 10 adults in the U.S. have reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder, a share that has been largely consistent, up from one in ten adults who reported these symptoms from January to June 2019 (Figure 1). A KFF Health Tracking Poll from July 2020 also found that many adults are reporting specific negative impacts on their mental health and well-being, such as difficulty sleeping (36%) or eating (32%), increases in alcohol consumption or substance use (12%), and worsening chronic conditions (12%), due to worry and stress over the coronavirus. As the pandemic wears on, ongoing and necessary public health measures expose many people to experiencing situations linked to poor mental health outcomes, such as isolation and job loss." One can only imagine how those numbers have risen since this survey was done.
The question is, what do we do about all of this. I think the answers can be found in the Christmas story as presented by the gospel writers, Matthew and Luke. In both accounts we see a contrast between an earthly king and Christ the King. In both instances this tension caused fear and what seems to be unnecessary suffering. This tension between the two kingdoms have never ceased and I believe that we are seeing this tension play out right before our eyes in real time. The question is, which kingdom to you belong to. Where does your allegiance rest?
The Kingdom of God
I believe that one of the most overlooked aspects of the Christmas story in Luke chapter two is the fact that the narrative begins with Caesar Augustus, "And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city." (Luke 2:1-3). There are two things that make his mention important, the contrast and the control. Augustus was the most powerful king in the world at that time. He is also one of the most prolific figures in all of history. Yet, he barely even gets a mention in the annals of Scripture. The only reason he is mentioned at all is to show that his decree that all of the empire should be taxed, was actually accomplishing God's decree that Christ should be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). This all powerful king is mentioned in passing in order to contrast the real King in Luke two. This is a common theme in Scripture. For example, none of the Egyptian Pharaohs were deemed worthy to be named in Genesis or Exodus, but the Lord's servants are (Joseph and Moses). It is encouraging to know that God is concerned about the redemptive history of His people. After all, history is His-story.
Whether they realize it or not, the kings of the earth are always accomplishing the will of God. Some might say, but what about the wickedness of nation's and their leaders. There is a very important category distinction to make between the scriptural will of God and the Sovereign plan of God. Men disobey God's scriptural commands every day. However, the sovereign plan of God is never thwarted. Think about the cross. Was it not God's sovereign plan from eternity past that Christ should die for the sins of mankind? Is Christ not a lamb slain from the foundation of the world? So can we say that even in man's ultimate attempt to overthrow God, even to the point of murdering His Son, they were actually accomplishing His will? Of course. "But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased." Psalm 115:3
One other thing that needs to be noted about this census decreed by Caesar is how hard it must have been on Joseph and Mary. This decree forced them to travel several days to their birth place of Bethlehem while Mary was very pregnant. Conservatives in America tend to whine about government control (I'm as guilty as anyone), but imagine being forced to travel to your place of birth just to sign a census that will be used in order to tax you. For me this would mean that I would have travel from my current residence in Utah to Gainesville, Florida, which is close to a thirty hour drive (I don't even want to know what camel time would be). Yet, God's decree was being accomplished by the draconian measures of this earthly king. Keep this in mind next time an election or a bill doesn't go your way.
The Kingdom of This World
Matthew's account of the Christmas story also begins with the mention of an earthly king, Herod. When the wise men rode into Jerusalem one night looking for the real King (Jesus), not only did it trouble Herod, but "all Jerusalem with him." Instead of being excited about the birth of the prophesied Messiah, they were troubled. Why? The answer is simple, the birth of a Jewish king meant war. Even though Rome controlled everything with an iron fist, economic prosperity was booming within the empire at the time of Christ's birth. Why mess up the status quo with talk of a new king?
Understanding this fact, Herod devised a plan to kill Jesus before he took his first steps. He told the wise men that when they found him, to share his location so that he could come and worship the new king as well. Of course, murder was on his mind, not worship. When the wise men didn't return, Herod decreed that all male babies in the province be killed. Whereas Caesar unknowingly accomplished the will of God with the census, Herod set his face against God and His Christ, seeking to murder Him. However, he did not succeed. The earthly kings will never conquer the King of kings. His plans can never be cancelled.
This conflict with Herod highlights the conflict between the two kingdoms of Heaven and Earth, good and evil, light and darkness. However, this conflict did not begin with Herod. It goes all the way back to the garden of Eden when Adam fell. God told Satan in the garden, "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." (Genesis 3:15). The seed of God are His children, the representatives of His kingdom on the earth, with Christ as their head. The seed of serpent are the lost, the kingdom of this world.
Notice that these two kingdoms are at enmity with one another. This is seen in Cain and Able, "In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous." (I John 3:10-12). This conflict is also seen in the building of the tower of Babel when Nimrod and the rulers of the world tried to erect a tower in defiance of God. We see this conflict between the Israelites and all of their many enemies. However, this conflict came to a climax at the cross when Christ defeated Satan, sin and death on behalf of His people.
The history of this conflict between the two kingdoms is one of violence and control. The kingdom of darkness can't live in harmony with the kingdom of light. This world hates God and His people. This conflict still rages today. However, because of the cross we aren't fighting for the victory, we are fighting from the victory.
The important thing to remember this Christmas and the coming year is that Christ came to the earth to give us hope. That's not something that we are hearing a lot from the media. Christ entered into His own creation to live a perfect life and die for His creatures, rising from the dead on the third day! He is seated now at the right hand of God the Father interceding on behalf of His people. Robert Murray M’Cheyne once said, "If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me." Make no mistake about it, we are on the winning side.
Conclusion
One of my favorite books (there are some good movies as well) is The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. I love the part when Scrooge is confronted by the ghost of Christmases yet to come and he is allowed to see his looming death and judgment. He begs the spirit for one more chance, that he will love his fellow man, ease the burdens of others and keep Christmas in his heart all year. Scrooge wakes up in his bed on Christmas day and realizes that he has been given another chance. Many Christians in America and abroad have been like Scrooge in that we have been absorbed by our own fears, prejudices and the desire to return to life as "normal". However, the American experiment is the historical exception and not the rule as it pertains to freedom and prosperity. No one owes it to us, and no one promises that it will continue.
The victory of the Christian life is not that this life will be easy and that everything will go our way. This is good news since it's safe to say that the conflict of the kingdoms is alive and raging once again here in America. It seemed to lie dormant for quite some time, but has once again surfaced. We are seeing an atheist take over of America. As Doug Wilson said, "Atheists can function in free societies, but atheists do not establish free societies. They establish societies which are hellholes." (Easy Chairs, Hard Words. page 32). However, like Scrooge, the children of the King must awaken and realize that it's a new day. Things may never go back to the way that they were, they may very well get much worse, and that's ok. We are on the winning side and we don't have to be afraid.
What we are seeing in America is the emergence of two gods, safety and freedom. I am very thankful for both, but they both make lousy gods. They also represent differing opinions as to what this earthly kingdom should look like. Don't get me wrong, I think that Christians should be involved in government. But we also don't need to get consumed with rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. We don't need to get so consumed with making this earthly kingdom so perfect that we forget to fight for the Heavenly kingdom.
Like Scrooge, my family and I have made some resolutions of our own. We have looked at the research and decided that we will not take a vaccine that A) will not prevent us from getting Covid B) will not stop us from spreading Covid to others and C) because we contracted the virus over a year ago, we have have natural immunity. However, we have also decided not to judge and degrade others who have come to a different conclusion. By the grace of God we will not live in fear of a virus, or fear of government mandates. We will love our neighbors regardless or their race, religion, political affiliation, or vaccination status. We will continue to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, as it is the only hope for humanity. We will continue to cheerfully gather with the saints and worship the true and living God. Most of all, we will strive everyday to live in the joy of the Lord. The darkness needs to be confronted with light, lies need to be confronted with the truth of God's Word, hate needs to be conquered by love, fear needs to be overcome with faith and discouragement needs to be lifted by joy.
Children of the King should be the happiest people in all of the world. We should not be devastated when things don't go our way. We shouldn't be so fragile when our worldview is challenged. We should not be shocked when sinners sin. We should not trust in princes or place our affections on the things of this world. The hope of Christmas is that Christ came to this earth to save sinners, and all of the forces of hell couldn't stop Him, neither can they now. Rejoice child of God, we're on the winning side! Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.
"Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him." Psalm 2
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