Jude 1:21 - Keep youselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.
In this creation, everything has a beginning and an end. There cannot be an end to something without a beginning, and there cannot be a beginning of something without an end. That's the way the world turns. Wars begin; wars end. Life begins; life ends. We can never know for sure when these things will start until they begin. Nor do we know when these things may end until they have already ended.
According to Genesis, God created the heavens and the earth. Before that time, God was. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. In the Gospel of John, the Word takes on humanity as He begins His life among His own creation. He is the man, Jesus Christ. In God the Father's mercy, it was His plan-even before the existence of light-to send His Son, Jesus Christ, to save the world. Before time began, He already knew what would be required to save sinners from their sins. He already knew and still He did it. Truly, God so loves the world.
In the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, He humbled Himself, took on human flesh, and physically lived among His own people. This He did when the time had fully come. At Christmas, we celebrate this beginning-this Advent of our Savior. It is through the perfect babe born in Bethlehem and the sinless man crucified on Calvary that we have life eternal. Now as flesh and blood, our earthly life has a beginning and an end. But as believers in Christ, even when our life is ending in this world, we look forward to the beginning of our life in heaven-an eternal life that has no end!
THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, in Your divine wisdom You sent Jesus to earth to carry our burdens, bear our iniquities, and offer Himself as a perfect sacrifice. Thank You for the gift of Your Son so that one day, through faith, we will reign with You in a Kingdom without end. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Written by Pastor Stephen Mueller
St. James Lutheran Church
Quincy, Illinois
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