A day to remember

Every generation has 'marker' days, days on which an event that changed the course of history occurred. My generation will always remember September 11, 2001 simply as "9/11" the day that terrorists brought their hatred to the United States - killing thousands. My grandparents' generation remember December 7, 1941 as "Pearl Harbor Day." This was the day that brought American public support around for entering World War 2 and war was declared a few days later. Tragically, the deaths of thousands of sailors could have been avoided IF the commanders of the Naval bases there on Hawaii had been vigilant, but they did not take the threat of Japanese hostility seriously. The common assumption was that the Japanese navy simply could not cross thousands of miles of open ocean to attack U.S. bases without being detected. But, they did; and that beautiful Sunday morning, in 1941, thousands died and our Pacific fleet was almost completely destroyed.

Amazingly, most marker days in history have to do with death and destruction, sorrow and loss! Christians are in the Season of Advent preparing to celebrate a marker day that is different, very different. Christmas (yes, I'm aware that 12/25 is not really the day of Jesus' birth, but rather a day chosen for the celebration!) is a marker day that is about LIFE! A devout old man named Simeon captures the importance of the event. He met Joseph and Mary at the Temple days after Jesus' birth and held the baby boy in his arms. The Holy Spirit revealed the identity of the infant to this old man who declared, “Lord, now I can die in peace! As you promised me, I have seen the Savior you have given to all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!” (Luke 2:29-32, NLT)

The significance of the event is of such importance that even our Western calendar dating system is built around the birth of Jesus Christ! We live in 2005 Anno Domine (A.D.) which is a Latin phrase meaning, "year of our Lord." Those who might think that the birth of Jesus is just a day of importance to Christians, or that it is just a day of sentimental significance, need to be reminded that the birth of Jesus is the event that changed history. His teaching about the value of individual persons, about compassion, about God's gracious love form the basis of our Western culture! This fact is largely forgotten as our society becomes increasingly secular, blind to the impact that the eternal and spiritual has on the temporal world.

The passing of time blurs our grasp of facts, sometimes even erases our memory. We forget the events that caused the shape of current cultural, moral, political, and spiritual concepts and practices. The costs, often terrible and bloody, of radical change, are forgotten as subsequent generations enjoy the benefits that come from the sacrifices of those who went before them.

So, let me wrap up this TFTD with a two-fold appeal:

a. Remember Pearl Harbor Day, and those men and women who endured the terrible war that followed, out of which grew the present world order which has provided us with great freedom and prosperity.

b. Remember Christmas! Yes, remember, with joy, the baby in the Manger, the song of the angels, the visit of the Magi. Take stock of the hope and peace that you know as result of knowing Jesus as your Savior. But, remember, too, the wide ranging impact that His Life has had on the world in which we live.
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"Father, thank you for sending Light into a dark world.
Help me to keep the Light blazing.
Don't let me forget-
the love of Jesus who came to earth,
at great cost to Himself.
Don't let me forget the sacrifice of those who kept the faith alive
through hundreds of years,
so I could know of Your love today.

As I remember your Gift, let me receive Him anew,
and change me from the inside out,
from sinner to saint,
by the power of the Spirit.
Then, make me a person of transformation,
who make a difference...
to my friends, my family; yes, Lord,
to the world of which I am such a small part.
In the Name of the Lord Jesus, I pray.
Amen."