“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son … so that we might receive adoption as sons.” Galatians 4:4,5
In 1966, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel released a song entitled, “I am a Rock”. The song includes these lyrics:
“I have my books and my poetry to protect me
I am shielded in my armor, Hiding in my room, safe within my womb
I touch no one and no one touches me
I am a rock; I am an island
And a rock feels no pain, and an island never cries.”
Many people treat the Christmas story as fantasy. Both Jesus Christ and Santa Claus are fictional characters meant to exude warmth and comfort and meaning in an otherwise cold, empty, meaningless world. The reduced sunlight and the dropping temperatures of the winter months lead to greater despair and depression, and higher rates of suicide. And the Christmas story is considered to be an illusion to shield oneself, to some degree, from the utter futility and loneliness of life.
As we come to church this morning, we do well to ask ourselves, “Is Jesus Christ an illusion?” Is he just the figment of our imagination to help us cope in this troubled world? Are the words that Paul Simon wrote more in line with our experience of reality?
There are over seven billion people on Planet Earth, and hundreds of cities are teeming with multiple millions of citizens! Yet many within the crowd feel alone and forgotten! Paul Simon’s words are not reality. He may well have been crying as he wrote the final words. It is an illusion to consider yourself a rock and an island that does not feel. We were meant for love and for relationship!
Blaise Pascal once said, “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of each man which cannot be satisfied by any created thing but only by God the Creator, made known through Jesus Christ.” Jesus Christ came on Christmas as the ultimate reality! He split history by His birth into BC and AD! And He desires to be in fellowship with you! He desires to be your Saviour, your Lord and your brother. The gospel is not an illusion – it is the greatest news this world has ever received! If you’ve never trusted Him – make this Christmas the best ever! Accept Him today!