The Fall

Reflecting on the culture in a post-World War II era, author Charles Bukowski once mused "The world is a hellish place…". War can do that to an individual. But so can the unexplainable natural disaster, or the unexpected disease that ravishes the body. And while observing these "tragedies" is natural and important, a deeper, more important question lies beneath - "Why?".

Genesis 3:17 offers us a foundationally theological insight into the broken nature of the world as the Lord punishes Adam for having disobeyed His command. In the latter part of the verse, God says, "…cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life…" Because of the Fall, sin has cursed even the earth, and set up a broken and conflicted relationship between the created order and mankind.

And this brokenness of the world will remain until Jesus Christ himself heals it and restores it. Paul reflects on this fact in Romans 8:20-21 - "For the creation was subjected to futility…in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption…" Christmas is a reminder that God cares about all of His creation, and there's a hope not just for humanity, but for the physical world as well.

So when we say Jesus is the savior of the world, we mean that quite literally. Because of the incarnation of Christ and his atoning sacrifice on the cross of Calvary, the created order is promised to "…obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God."(Rom 8:21) Not only will we be completely set free from the effects of sin one day, but so will the world.

Therefore, let's not fall into the trap of merely commenting on the brokenness of the world. Let's not get caught up in the negative space of complaining and hopelessness lest we lose an entirely biblical perspective of the world. Yes, the world is broken. But God has done something about it in and through His Son. This is what Christmas is all about!