Immanuel

עִמָּנוּאֵל
Ἐμμανουήλ
Immanuel. God with us.

One of my favorite chapters of all literature carries this theme. Perhaps this Christmas is an altogether appropriate time to share it: "God With Us"


"His name shall be called Immanuel, . . . God with us." "The light of the knowledge of the glory of God" is seen "in the face of Jesus Christ." From the days of eternity the Lord Jesus Christ was one with the Father; He was "the image of God," the image of His greatness and majesty, "the outshining of His glory." It was to manifest this glory that He came to our world. To this sin-darkened earth He came to reveal the light of God's love,--to be "God with us." Therefore it was prophesied of Him, "His name shall be called Immanuel."
By coming to dwell with us, Jesus was to reveal God both to men and to angels. He was the Word of God,--God's thought made audible. In His prayer for His disciples He says, "I have declared unto them Thy name,"--"merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,"--"that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them, and I in them." But not alone for His earthborn children was this revelation given. Our little world is the lesson book of the universe. God's wonderful purpose of grace, the mystery of redeeming love, is the theme into which "angels desire to look," and it will be their study throughout endless ages. Both the redeemed and the unfallen beings will find in the cross of Christ their science and their song. It will be seen that the glory shining in the face of Jesus is the glory of self-sacrificing love. In the light from Calvary it will be seen that the law of self-renouncing love is the law of life for earth and heaven; that the love which "seeketh not her own" has its source in the heart of God; and that in the meek and lowly One is manifested the character of Him who dwelleth in the light which no man can approach unto. (full chapter)

Between Two Worlds

“Whooooooottt”

In a vacuum of context, one word text messages can be meaningless. But I knew exactly what this one meant. Yesterday Stanford released admissions decisions to early applicants at 3pm. Hence, when 3:10pm rolled around and a high school friend who had applied texted me, “Whoooooottt”, the message was clear.

Later I was able to meet up with him (naturally, a campus visit was the first thing on his mind).  It was neat to see him processing, recognizing the reality and significance of the admissions offer. I think a few times I saw it begin to hit him.

But the odd thing is, although he can now claim Stanford as “his school”, it isn’t quite yet. At least, not fully. He’s still a high school student.

Hence a tension. He’s caught between two worlds. Two realities. In the upcoming months he’ll undoubtedly struggle with this “senioritis”.

Incredibly, my high school friend's present experience parallels that of many of history’s greatest patriarchs of faith, such as Abraham. Note how the Bible describes them:

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country.  (Hebrews 11:13-16a)

They experience the tension: living in this world while having accepted the promise of the heavenly one. Hence, they live as “strangers and pilgrims to the earth.”

Still today – or rather, especially today –  the Christian looks at the world around him and recognizes that it is not his home. He sees creation groaning in anticipation of the great soon coming graduation. “And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies” (Romans 8:19).

So we wait, between two worlds, as we learn daily how to live as a heavenly citizen while an earthly resident.