Christmas

The Universe

The universe is pretty big. If scientific interpretation is right, it is about 80 quintillion miles across. It’s tough to understand that, but let’s try. To drive 80 miles at the speed limit it would take just over an hour. If we were to go at 1000 times the speed limit (60,000 mph) it would take 5 seconds – even the Shuttle could not do that. We would have to do this multiplication 4 more times to make the trip across the universe in a reasonable time. Even at the speed of light the trip is 140 billion years. No-one is going to do this.

But despite its size, everything in the universe works at a sub-atomic scale. An atom is about 0.1 nanometer in diameter. There are about 1,000,000 atoms across a single hair. We do not have the tools to directly image an atom – let alone the even smaller particles that make up atoms. The degree of complexity in such a big system, that is comprised of particles so small is stunning and well beyond our ability to grasp.

Babies

Newborn babies are good at doing two things, making poop and crying, and maybe to dissolve women and make them goo. Otherwise they are completely helpless and utterly dependent on others to feed, clean and nurture them; without which they would quickly die.

The President

When the President of the USA travels it is a big deal. The airport and highways are shut down. The buildings around where he is speaking are shuttered. Hundreds of security staff invade the place glaring behind their sunglasses and muttering into their sleeves. The local people are enormously inconvenienced and business comes to a grinding halt. I have been trapped in airports for hours waiting for Air Force One to come or go. How does a single person get away with making such an impact? Because of his importance; it is considered worth the inconvenience because of the value of his being there.

So What?

How do these three seemingly disparate discussions tie together? In the Christmas story of course.

How important is God? Pretty important. He spoke the universe into being. So the big place we will never see from end to end, He made from nothing. By speaking; and a brief four-word sentence at that. Not only that, but He knows and controls the position of every one of those tiny sub-atomic particles filling that enormous space. He keeps it all going moment by moment; nothing is random or left to run on its own. So, if someone as important as God came to town, how much impact would it have? Normal life would come to a standstill with everyone out on the streets falling on their faces. Right?

How did He come then? He arrived as one of those helpless, pooping, crying babies. Consider the indignity of it. The one who shaped stars having His diaper changed.

Why did He come? To give us what we really need. Forgiveness. That we don't deserve. Despite our arrogance.

Big things often start small. That small clot in a brain that disables a parent. That call from the boss to say you are laid off. That spark of an idea that creates a new industry. The list is endless.

Jesus birth seemed small. But His impact was, and continues to be, worldwide and eternal. Best of all, heaven will be populated because of it.

Will you be there?

That is Christmas.