Faithful on Fridays Blog

Have you noticed the nativity scenes that are displayed this year? I see them in people’s yards, in front of buildings, churches, and even some brave, local businesses. Some cities have displayed nativities for decades but now are threatened with lawsuits if they’re not removed. Why? What’s the big deal? Why does anyone care about a representation of a 2,000 year old story?

Part of the answer is that the nativity of Christ depicts the fulfillment of the promise God made to man back in the Garden of Eden.

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel. Genesis 3:15 NIV

The nativities remind us that God, born of a woman, would crush Satan’s head and destroy his authority. Our enemy, who hates God and hates believers, is reminded as well. What is that all-important reminder? Remember, Satan wanted to be like the Most High God, the king of his kingdom, so to speak. It must exasperate him to no end to be reminded that he simply will never be a king.

How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning! You have been thrown down to the earth, you who destroyed the nations of the world. For you said to yourself, ‘I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars. I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north. I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High. Isaiah 14:12-14 NLT

However, the angel Gabriel announced to a young, virgin named Mary:

You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end! Luke 1:31-33 NLT

There can be only one king in this world and His name is Jesus.

Yeshua is the Hebrew name we translate ‘Jesus’. It means the One who will save, deliver, and rescue us. We’re reminded in the nativity scenes that Jesus came to rescue us: then and now. Living in the kingdom of God is being delivered from evil and constantly calling on Him to save us from circumstances that are out of our control. His desire is to hear us call out and answer those prayers; this shows us that His love is eternal, whether in this world or the next.

God is all about memories so go ahead and remember this Christmas that God’s Kingdom, which is our Kingdom, endures forever. Now, that’s good news of great joy! Have a Merry Christmas this year full of memories and enjoy viewing the nativity scenes with new eyes and a fresh look: view them with a kingdom perspective.