THE CHRISTMAS PLANET

There it is in the very first words of the Bible — more than a suggestion that in the great purpose of God our little planet was meant to be particularly important.

Why do we read, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth,” not “the heaven and Mars” or “the heaven and Jupiter”? Or why does God in the Bible make mention of the earth at all? Is it not part of His heavens?

Surely it is not because the earth is large or impressive as planets go. It is a well known fact that a million earths like our could be dropped into a sphere the size of our sun. And we know that some planets are so large that they in turn would swallow up a half billion of our suns!

Let’s face it: our planet is just a cosmic piece of dust in the Milky Way, the galaxy of which our earth is part. And our galaxy is only one of a hundred million that we know about, each one averaging roughly a hundred billion stars and planets!

In a universe so vast, why has God singled out our earth for special mention in the opening statement?

The Bible itself reveals the answer and we do not have to look far to find it. In Genesis 1:26 we read that God said, “Let us make man in ourimage, after our likeness: and let them have dominion . . . .”

From this and related scriptural information we are warranted in believing that our planet is where the Creator chose to reveal Himself. Not only this but that He chose to make this revelation to a creature made in His image and after His likeness — a creature with the capacity to receive such a revelation. “So the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul” (Gen. 2:7).

And then the unthinkable took place. Man, God’s special creation for His special purpose, rebelled against his Maker. Becoming a sinful, fallen shell of what he had once been, he was justly barred from God’s presence by his sin.

Would the great plan be abandoned? Would God find another world and form another, more obedient creation?

The wonder of it all is that God did not! More than ever, earth and its people became the object of divine concern as God in love and wisdom had planned from the beginning. The Great Purpose was still unchanged; He would reveal Himself to them but now He would also save them from their sins.

Centuries passed and God spoke to His people by the prophets. But the ultimate revelation was still to come. Came a night in the fullness of time, and “God sent forth his Son, made of a woman” (Gal 4:4). A star shone over Bethlehem, shepherds heard the voice of angels and Christmas came to planet earth.

At last the Great Purpose had been fulfilled. Writes the apostle John in wonder, “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

Jesus Himself declared that this was true. This One who became our Saviour could not have spoken more clearly than He did to Philip: “If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him and have seen him … Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip?” (John 14:7).

No wonder heaven itself opened to the shepherds that first Christmas night for heaven’s message! “Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10–11).

Thrice blessed will be the individual who joins the shepherds to see and receive this thing which has come to pass in the person of God’s Son. Nothing less than seeing Him, our God and Saviour, is truly Christmas!

The best thing to give to your enemy is forgiveness; to an opponent, tolerance; to a friend, your heart; to your child, a good example; to a father, deference; to your mother, conduct that will make her proud of you; to yourself, respect; to all men, charity.

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