Heartbeat
~ A Christmas Reflection ~
Parents for the first time. Heartbeat. And each time a new little one comes into a home where Christ’s love reigns. That cherished little heartbeat. Life. All the wonder, all the potential.
Mary had her first experience of that wonder. In a cattle shed. Wonder, no less! Joseph would have expressed his own perspective of that experience.
The heartbeat of the little one in the manger was a direct expression of another.
Mega heartbeat of heaven. What was the way to redeem back the created ones who had turned away from their Creator? He knew. He would have to take His place among them, become one of them. Live among them. Walk, talk with them. Minister to them. Then . . . die for them! Emmanuel. God with us.
“Heartbeat”. Considering that word we, of course, may think of the rhythmic pumping of blood by the remarkable life-sustaining organ designed by our Creator. Remarkable indeed. Consider that in an 80-year life this organ beats approximately 3.3 billion times.
But the heartbeat of heaven was love, heart of Creator-Redeemer for created ones, love turned to real world, real-time embrace.
Considering major initiatives of the Creator-Redeemer: creation, mercy, grace in spite of human sin, intervention beyond human ability, strategic covenants, wisdom on pages of holy writ, prophets forthtelling and foretelling His message—pondering all of these brings us up close to heaven’s heartbeat.
Listen! What do you hear?
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,
On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this (Isa 9:6-7).[1]
Lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were much afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. . . . And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men (Luke 2:9-11, 13-14, NIV).
. . . you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins (Matt. 1:21).
But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons (Gal. 4:4-5).
By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (1 John 4:9-10).
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16, KJV).
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us (Eph. 1:7-8).
. . . God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus . . . (2 Tim 1: 8b-9).
See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God (1 John 3:1).
As “God with us”, Emmanuel walked the trails of our human family.
Listen to heaven’s heartbeat as he lived out this God-love.
To the paralyzed man let down through the roof before Him, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you” (Luke 5:20). To the woman caught in adultery, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more” (John 8:11). To the leper who implored, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean,” His response: “I am willing; be cleansed.” In the home of the synagogue official whose daughter died, He took the girl’s lifeless hand in His own, “and she got up” (Matt. 9:25).
To all sinking beneath weighty burdens He welcomes, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and You will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30).
There’s more to contemplate regarding heaven’s heartbeat, but for now . . .
Let’s soak in those words of welcome from Emmanuel himself. 
Find this post meaningful. I’d love for you to PIN IT!
[1] Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the NASB 1995.
