On a harsh night in Bethlehem, two brave souls made their way through a crowded city. They were finally at the end of a rugged (and involuntary) 80 mile road trip from Nazareth. A baby was on the way, and the expectant mother needed a safe, clean place for the night. Unfortunately, Joseph and Mary were shut out. They were met with the hard reality of “no room in the Inn.”
By Grant McClung
The story of our lives, and of those we seek to reach during the Christmas season, is often filled with heartaches and struggles. Unexpected, unpleasant, and even life-threatening situations may come our way, even during the holidays. Like Joseph and Mary, encountering “no room in the inn,” we may be facing some “inns” of Christmas realities.
The Reality of Indifference
Caught up in their own life struggles and the web of consumerism, people around us may seem to offer a cold shoulder to the coming of the Savior and a lack of interest or passion for the Biblical message of Christmas. We may have to deal with this in our family and social network. We sorrow for the spiritual apathy and lukewarm attitude in our adult children, siblings, relatives, co-workers, and neighbors.
Some may appear indifferent and intolerant but may simply be uninformed or unaware of the basic truths of the gospel. Therefore, we cannot be deterred or discouraged. We must keep the narrative alive, telling the story, preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, and celebrating the Christian heritage of our holiday celebration. Christmas is prime time, “…to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…” (1 Peter 3.15 NIV).
The Reality of Insecurity
As young missionaries in Germany, my wife and I approached the Christmas of 1979 filled with anticipation of another beautiful Advent in the land of holiday traditions. Just three days before Christmas, however, our world would be turned upside down with tragedy. The overseas phone call came at 4.00 a.m. with the stunning news of my mother-in-law’s death in a car accident. Moving to the living room of that small village apartment we sought God in prayer. The comfort of His response was, “Fear not: for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned; nor shall the flame scorch you; for I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior” (Isaiah 43. 1-3 NKJV). God’s power and presence was real in the midst of our insecurity, pain, and loss.
The Reality of Insufficiency
Even though they were chosen by God, and responded with consecrated obedience, both Mary and Joseph struggled with feelings of insufficiency. The challenges and struggles of life come our way and we sometimes wonder if we are up to the task, especially when we are tempted to compare ourselves with others.
At Christmas, we can be tempted to indulge in self-doubt as we compare what we perceive to be strengths in others to our own admitted weaknesses. Others have a way of affording the “perfect” Christmas gift. Someone else is viewed as the ultimate holiday cook and home decorator. They seem to have it all together while we deem ourselves insufficient and inadequate.
Christians in Corinth were preoccupied with their own accomplishments and comparing one “great” minister to another. The Apostle Paul reminded them, rather bluntly, that all sufficiency comes from the Lord. “ Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves,” he said, “but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant…”( 2 Corinthians 3.5 – 6 NKJV). Paul confessed that, “We have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us” (2 Corinthians 4. 7 NKJV).
God’s Answer: Incarnation and Immanuel
Christmas realities — indifference, insecurity, insufficiency — threaten to steal our joy, take away our hope, and turn Christmas into a dreadful and trying season. God, however, has proactively answered every one of the holiday “inns.”
God’s answer is “incarnation,” and a Redeemer called “Immanuel.” The life-changing Christmas reality is, “The Word became flesh and lived for a while among us” (John 1.14 NIV). At his miraculous birth, Jesus was named, “Immanuel…God with us” (Matthew 1.23 NIV). God in Christ lived among us! He was not remote and aloof but fully present in all the realities of life. Jesus experienced the pain and pathos of the human condition. With full empathy and understanding of every life situation, He is our sympathetic and faithful High Priest (Hebrews 2.16-17; 4.15).
When Christmas realities come our way, God promises that, “…the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4.7 NIV). As we live out our new life in Christ, “…the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress…” and, “…prays for us…” (Romans 8.26 NLT).
You may struggle, even suffer, this Christmas season but God promises that, “…our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8.18 NIV). This is the ultimate and eternal Christmas reality!
Dr. Grant McClung, President of Missions Resource Group (www.MissionsResourceGroup.org), is an International Missionary Educator with Church of God World Missions.