Who’s Going to Clean Up This Mess?

by Dec 2, 2019Christmas, Christmas 2019, Devotional

As a child, I was a slob. I’m sure there was carpet in my room, but it was unseen for all the clothes, old candy wrappers, and used dishes I kept on top of it. As you might imagine, this was a breeding ground for all sorts of creepy crawly things: ants and spiders to name a few. Discovering the creepy crawly things eventually turned me into a neat freak, but in that moment, the mess was so bad I didn’t even know where to begin to clean it all up. I needed help.

Have you ever made a mistake, or a series of mistakes, that led you to a similar state of mind? Have you ever seen a mess in your life and wondered, “How am I ever going to sort this out?”

I wonder if Eve ever felt that way. After she and her husband ate that fateful fruit (you know the one), they forever changed humanity. All those who came after them would feel the sting of broken relationship with God and with each other. I imagine Eve sitting on a hill, looking out on creation, as if looking out onto all the history that would now come after her, asking, “How is this ever going to get sorted out? Who’s going to clean all this up?”

Fast forward to Christmas. In the small town of Bethlehem, Eve’s answer is born. The pain which had been multiplied is now surpassed by joy. The weight of brokenness has been overwhelmed by the relief of a Savior.

It’s strange, but the joy of Christmas increases as our awareness of its need increases. As we recognize the not-rightness of the world around us and the not-rightness of the world within us, we ask, “Who will make it all right?” Our answer lays in a manger.

Read Genesis 3:14-19

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