Isaiah 9:2-3 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest.
The word radical can mean “of the root” or “going to the foundation, source or basis” of something. It could even refer to an extreme change or commitment.
When you think of Christmas in this way, it is a truly “Radical” event. The world had fallen into sin and distanced itself from God. Yet He loves his creation so much that he sent his only begotten Son into our fallen world. Now that is radical. The Creator of the universe intervened in a personal and basic way. His Son comes with a mission to draw us back to Himself. The mission could be no more extreme. It is radical.
The Christmas story reflects the radical love of God. Love is his essence, the root of his nature. We, on the other hand, are sinners at our core. It is the root of our every problem in life. Whether we sin against others directly or find ourselves the victim of another’s sin, our daily struggle is against sin. With these realities in place, God so loved that he sent Jesus to be born into the world and to take upon himself the work of bringing fallen man back to God. Radical God helping a radically fallen race.
The story of Christmas continues through us. Having been radically saved, we are sent to continue Christ’s mission. Christmas continues as we seek to find the lost, to heal the broken, to feed the hungry, to release the prisoner, to rebuild the cities and nations, to bring peace among brothers and to share the joy of our hearts. Until Christ returns, may we live radically for Him as we work to extend His blessings this Christmas season.
