By Candance Voyles
“But when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” Galatians 4:4-5
Christmas just has its own special magic and meaning for all those who celebrate it. There are so many memories and moments we associate with it—from the decorations, the time spent with family, to the wonder of the children and seeing Christmas through their eyes. Most special of all is the birth of the Son of God into this world. That is what means the most to those of us who know the Lord and have been redeemed.
To so many, myself included, Christmas can also be a difficult time of year.
When you have experienced grief, loss, or pain. When someone, especially a child, is missing around the table, those memories can bring more hurt than joy. The tasks that once you enjoyed at this time of year can become overwhelming. One thing remains the same through it all- Emmanuel, God with us. It really does strip this time of year down to the basics. In our hearts, we can rejoice in that fact. He came to where we are to feel our hurts and to take our sorrows and our sins so that we would never be alone again.
The phrase in this verse jumped out at me- “the fulness of time.” Since my little boy went to heaven, I have often thought about time—how it is both cruel and merciful to me now. It ebbs and flows like the tide. From the time we are born, we begin to die. Death is our natural enemy. Every moment I look at my children getting older, I watch time slip away so fast.
I feel the time since I last saw Jack’s smiling face. It feels so long ago. But there was a moment in history when time was at its fullest. It was at its most merciful to mankind and cruelest to the Son of God because He came to take away and become our sin.
He came to die.
Even though loss and difficulties can tarnish some of the brightness of the season we call “the most wonderful time of the year,” we can also look at it in this Light. This Light is the fulness of time—for all time, as well as this time of year. It is everything and all things that He would come to where we are. No wonder there was “glory to God in the highest” and could be “peace on earth and goodwill toward men”!
Jesus is with us and will never leave nor forsake us. Because the “fulness of time” came, our joy can still be full today, no matter what we may face.