O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence– (Isaiah 64:1)

I love the way the prophet Isaiah presents the image of a mountain having an emotional response. It’s a metaphor, yes, but it’s also an observation that everything in creation is subject to the influence of the presence of  God.

Of course, seismic movement and geological displacement isn’t what God is interested in. The prophet Isaiah might have enjoyed seeing people respond to that kind of God event (especially if it made them listen to him!) but God is more concerned with the hearts, the minds, and the relationships of people.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF QUAKE: Instigating rumblings in the human heart, however, requires a different kind of “tearing open of the heavens.”

• Rather than domination, God chose vulnerability;
• rather than shock and awe, God  reached down and gently placed promise in a mother’s womb;
• rather than moving mountains in response to the tirades of a prophet, God stands at the door of his children’s hearts and knocks, leaving the response up to us.

“Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me” (Rev 3:20).

Much of the time, I find myself thinking like the prophet. “Come on, God! Isn’t it about time to take names and kick patootie! How about a platoon or two of angels; how about some serious smiting? You could clean house, God, and we’d all love to watch. Make some people quake, Lord, make them quake!”

But no. God sent Jesus. Jesus broke into (breaks into) time and space with a much more complete agenda than that of the prophet’s imagination. Jesus is in the business of setting people free.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do…” (Romans 8:1-3)

Christmas is an intervention of love, and grace, and promise. All we have to do is to listen to God’s voice and open the door.

– DEREK