There is this
great chapter in John Steinbeck’s “East of Eden,” wherein he describes this
darling country mother (Olivia Hamilton, by name) who disbelieves a war is
taking place (World War 1) until a neighbor boy is killed in Germany. This
death snaps her to her senses so strongly she declares her own personal war
against the Kaiser himself and sells so many war bonds that the Army rewards
her efforts with a plane ride. The only problem is that she does not believe in
airplanes. What happens next is golden—but you read that for yourself.
Truthfully (and
on a very human level) the Christmas story is hard to believe; yet, with all
the historical evidences alone, the event is undisputed and we can embrace and
rejoice with the news of the Savior! We can, to some degree, begin to grasp the
conflicting emotion experienced by Mary and Joseph who both received angelic
announcements concerning what was going to happen. The news is unbelievable;
however, they trusted God.
And what about
the shepherds? The news is unbelievable, but they trusted God.
And the wise
men? Not only were they able to divine the news, but trekked quite a ways over
a long period of time because they believed God.
The Christmas
story must be believed!
But that’s if
we jump over Luke 1 and go straight to Luke 2.
Luke 1 tells
another story, before Mary receives her announcement. Luke 1 is the story of unbelievable
news—and a man who did not believe . . . at first.
This is no accident
that Luke 1 comes before Luke 2. When he arranged his account, Luke begins with
the record of a man who did not believe God. And why not? This sets the tone
for the rest of the book: God is to be believed and the news is world-changing.
When you climb on board and believe God by faith, you will get the ride of your life.
