(December 04, 2023) Wayne Swift calls it as it really is regarding Christmas…

1. Someone has to pay 
When something goes wrong, the repair costs!

Something went wrong with the church lift and we tried to reset it… but it didn’t work. Eventually we had to have a serviceman come to repair the lift and – surprise, surprise – we had to pay for his time.

• To put it simply… something went wrong and someone had to pay.

One Friday I noticed a screw in the tyre of Ruth’s car and knew that it was only a matter of time before the tyre went flat, as in this icon. So I had a choice – pay now or pay later. To get the problem fixed I needed to find someone with a solution. Something went wrong and someone had to pay.

God created the world. Genesis 3 relays the account of Adam and Eve and their desire to separate themselves from connection and relationship with God for another alternative.

• Their choice brought consequences, though the outcome was not what they expected!
• Sold a dud,their relationship with God was damaged, broken and forever changed!
• Again… something went wrong and someone had to pay!

2. Someone did pay
With the lift someone had to pay – the church! We paid for the damage, we repaired the problem and we bore the cost and paid the price.

With Ruth’s car tyre, someone had to pay. The tyre was replaced by a man who was paid wages and the tyre was supplied by a company that sells goods. We repaired the problem, bore the cost and paid the price.

Adam and Eve sinned, the relationship with God was damaged and someone had to pay for it to be repaired. God himself knew what was required, He knew the cost, and how the problem could be fixed. God sent Jesus His Son to pay the price required! He repaired the problem, bore the cost and paid the price (John 3:16)!

3. Someone benefits
The lift is fixed now and the people who use it benefit. The staff who had to carry food and crockery and deliveries upstairs benefit. If you use the lift today, you benefit. Someone benefits.

Ruth’s tyre is fixed, Ruth benefits, I benefit, and so does everyone who sees Ruth here getting the gift of her advice and encouragement benefit. Without the tyre being repaired most of what she does would have been delayed or hindered. Someone benefits.

Whether we realise it or not, the opportunity of a complete and fulfilling relationship with God is offered to us today because of the price that was paid. Christ through His life, death and resurrection has purchased the opportunity for you and me to be in relationship with God again.

There is a benefit for all – if we are willing to take it. Sadly only some receive this benefit that is offered to all freely.

4. Things return to the normal
Finally… a return to normal is good, healthy and desired.

*The lift operates normally now and I’m sure the beneficiaries appreciate it as normal is preferred.

*Ruth’s tyre is fixed now and while I know she appreciates it, I know many others benefit because Ruth is not hindered in what she is doing. Again… normal is preferred.

*God wants normal relationship with humankind to be restored… it’s good, healthy and desired. Strained relationships are burdensome and stressful, normal relationships are healthy, fruitful and productive. It was normal for people to relate to God and today I challenge and encourage you to make a return to a normal  and satisfying relationship with Him… as normal is preferred.

Summarising the Christmas story…
At Christmas time we think of gift-giving to people. When carolling churches and Christians praise and worship God for the greatest gift of all – His only Son, Jesus, who would be our Saviour. Appropriate sermons are preached and challenges such as mine above are expressed.

Much can be said about Christmastime. But to sum up the real Christmas story, the real reason for the season was God’s priceless gift of the birth of the one who would pay the price for wrong things done – sin – so that many a ‘someone’ could benefit!

Christmas? Call it as it really is this year and remember these four points…

• Someone has to pay.
• Someone did pay.
• Someone benefits.
• Things return to normal.

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Wayne and Ruth Swift pastor Resound Church, Scoresby, Victoria. Link: Web resound.church
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