December 21, 2010

"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly." Romans 5:6

You are likely familiar with Murphy's Law which says, "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong". If there is any time of the year when Murphy's Law is most likely to happen it is surely at Christmas time! During Christmas there are so many plans made that something is certain to go wrong. And usually does.

When we think of the first Christmas it conjures up sentimental pictures of a sweet baby in a manger with mother Mary and Joseph looking on in wonder surrounded by shepherds and wise men. Such a tranquil scene!

But in real life, as the Christmas story was unfolding there was a series of things that seemingly went wrong. For Mary and Joseph it might have seemed like Murphy's Law was in play! What do I mean?

What a terrible time for the Caesar to get greedy and decide on a tax increase!

What a terrible time to get pregnant! Mary was engaged to be married to a fine young man and was waist deep in wedding plans when the angel showed up with his incredible announcement. If she went along with this amazing plan, there would be not dreamy wedding. She not only would forfeit her wedding, she would risk her reputation and her relationship with Joseph. In a matter of minutes her life went from great happiness to hardship.

What a terrible time to have to take a trip! Just days before Mary was due to deliver her baby she had to climb on a donkey and ride 60 miles on a donkey over rugged terrain. How hard is that? What else could go wrong to complicate things?

And what a terrible place to have to go! Bethlehem was a tiny out of the way place that happened to be the ancestral home of Joseph. Why else would anyone go there?

What a terrible time to go to Bethlehem! The place was crawling with cousins and aunts and uncles who had also come to register for the census and be taxed. There was only one place to stay in the whole town and by the time Mary and Joseph arrived, all the rooms were filled! They came all this way only to find themselves without a room. What else could go wrong?

What an awful place to have to deliver a baby! In a stable? Inside a manger? How humiliating! What else could go wrong?

And what a terrible time for the King to get parnoid and launch an assault against all baby boys in the land! What else could go wrong?

What a terrible place to have to flee! Just when they should have been heading back home to set up their lives, they had to make a midnight trip to Egypt!

For Mary and Joseph it must have seemed like Murphy's Law was in full effect! And yet the Scripture tells us "at just the right time Jesus was born"! What certainly looked like terrible timing was in fact, God's perfect timing! There was a greater law that Murphy's Law! What law was that? Mercy's Law! Mercy's Law says, "When everything seems to be going wrong - a miracle can still happen!"

Are things tough for you this Christmas? Does life seem to be going against you? Do circumstances seem to be conspiring against you? Are you asking, "what else can go wrong?" Have you convinced yourself you are a victim of Murphy's Law? Child of God, let me remind you of a higher law that is at work in your life - Mercy's Law. God's plan is right on time for your life!

Mercy's Law trumps Murphy's Law everytime and Christmas proves it!