The other night we watched a movie in which someone challenged the main character to “Prove it!” This skeptical attitude can pop up not only in our interactions with other people, but also with God. The Bible teaches that God loves us and wants to be with us, yet something inside us says, “Prove it!” So that’s exactly what He did.
From the very beginning, God wanted to be with the people He created. He walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden, bridging the gap between heaven and earth to share His love. Sadly, they failed to trust and obey His one directive, following their own reasoning and walking away from that fellowship. This changed man’s relationship with God, but not God’s desire to be with us.
After parting the Red Sea, God directed Moses to build a tabernacle in the wilderness (Exodus 25:8). The Hebrew word for tabernacle literally means to dwell. There God met with them even as they wandered, carrying God’s temporary home wherever the pillar of fire or smoke led them. Despite their stubborn sinfulness, He still wanted to dwell among His people.
Once established in the land God had promised them, Israel built a temple under the direction of King Solomon. At its dedication Solomon prayed, acknowledging that a mere temple could not hold the God of all creation. But he asked God to hear their prayers and to forgive them when they came there in repentance. Psalm 132:13-14, most likely written by Solomon, states, For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His habitation. “This is my resting place forever; Here I will dwell for I have desired it.”
But God’s people–even kings and priests–turned to idol worship, opening the door to destruction and exile. Yet despite their wickedness and the temple’s destruction, God did not change His desire. In Isaiah 7 and 8 the prophet tells of God’s ultimate plan to send Emmanuel, God with us.
Christ’s nativity fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy. And John 1:14 (AMP) reveals, . . . the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us.
After his death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven assuring his disciples that despite appearances, this was not the end of their fellowship with Him. An experience even more amazing than the disciples had with Jesus in person awaited them at Pentecost. There God poured out His Holy Spirit to empower not only them, but also us and all future believers—by living not only with us but in us forever!
Even after this earth passes away God’s plan for relationship with those He created will persist unchanged. In Revelation 21:3 John reveals: And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them.”
So this Christmas remember: that baby in the manger was God’s way of saying, “I want to be with you!” And God’s presence is the greatest present of all.
