[This reflection was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, December 2018]
“He came into the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognise Him.” John 1: 10.
Max Lucado tells the story of a young boy, Johnny, who was shooting rocks with a slingshot. He could never hit his target. As he returned to Grandma’s backyard, he spied her pet duck. On impulse, he took aim and let fly. The stone hit and the duck was dead. Johnny panicked and hid the duck in the woodpile, only to look up and see his sister Sally watching. After lunch that day, Grandma told Sally to help with the dishes. Sally responded, “Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen today. Didn’t you, Johnny?” And she whispered to him, “Remember the duck!” So Johnny did the dishes. What choice did he have? For the next several weeks, he was at the sink often. Sometimes for his duty, sometimes for his sin. “Remember the duck”, Sally would whisper when he objected.
So weary of the chore, he decided that any punishment would be better than washing more dishes, so he confessed to killing the duck. “I know, Johnny”, his grandma said, giving him a hug. “I was standing at the window and saw the whole thing. Because I love you, I forgave you. I wondered how long you would let Sally make a slave out of you.”
Max Lucado goes on to say that Johnny had been pardoned, but he thought he was guilty. Why? He had listened to the words of his accuser. You have been accused as well. You have been accused of dishonesty, immorality, greed, anger and arrogance. Your accuser has noticed every error and marked each slip. Try to forget your past; he’ll remind you.
In his letter to the Romans, Paul says “Who can accuse the people God has chosen? No one, because God is the one who makes them right. Who can say God’s people are guilty? No one, because Christ Jesus died, but he was also raised from the dead and now he is on God’s right side, begging for us.” Romans 8:32-34
Martin, our pastor, spoke at the Carol service about how Christ seems to have become irrelevant to many as they celebrate Christmas. He came into the world he made and he wasn’t recognised. The shame about it is that those who don’t recognise him also fail to realise what he has done for them.
The choice, this Christmas, is yours – ignore Christ and like Johnny, have a lifetime of washing dishes and ‘remembering the duck’, or welcome Christ and have a lifetime of rejoicing, as you remember what he has done for you.
Have a blessed Christmas.
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Contributed by David Makanjuola; © the Author
