What if ...?

Hennie Symington

In the beginning the Word already existed; the Word was with God, and the Word was God. From the very beginning the Word was with God. Through him God made all things; not one thing in all creation was made without him. The Word was the source of life, and this life brought light to humanity. John 1:1-4

The Word became a human being and, full of grace and truth, lived among us. We saw his glory, the glory which he received as the Father's only Son. John 1:14

God gave the Law through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17.

What if the Word remained the word only? We could have written it up in a book, declared it holy and left it on the shelf to gather dust.

But the Word did the unimaginable: The Word became flesh – took on human form in the truest sense of the word to demonstrate God’s unending love. Why? Because we didn’t get the message through all the ages. There were so many messages. God created a garden filled with splendour where man could dwell in perfect harmony with his Creator. But we didn’t get the message. Then God sent a flood to warn us of his displeasure. He gave laws to show us how to live but we still didn’t get the message. He sent prophets by the dozen to explain God’s message but that didn’t work either. Then God came in person. He loved this stubborn, crazy mixed up world so much that he became human and dwelled in our homes and the dusty streets of our towns.

Surely now they would understand when they can see and touch God and see how he lived when he was among us. How he healed the sick and the broken-hearted. How he laughed, and cried, how he healed and taught us to pray. And how he gave himself to be sacrificed: “This is my body, broken for you...”.

Then the Word returned to where he came from to prepare a place for us and sent his Spirit to guide and remind of God’s presence and his eternal love for us.

Prayer: Lord, open my eyes to your presence in every corner of creation. Let me bring light where there is darkness.