Read: Colossians 1:21-22
Did you realize everyone who walks on Planet Earth is an exile, someone barred from one’s native country? Adam and Eve’s native country was the Garden of Eden. Daily, they walked and delighted in the presence of God. However, they were barred from their birthplace when they sinned. Sin brought both separation from God and death. Because sin cannot in anyway exist in the presence of God, all mankind became “separated from Him by our evil thoughts and actions”. Thanks to Adam and Eve, all mankind is naturally born exiled from the very presence of God.
THE ETERNAL GOD REACHED OUT
This broke God’s heart. The original Latin text for the hymn “O Come O Come Emmanuel” contains a reverse acrostic. It translates: “I shall be with you tomorrow”. The Eternal God reaches out to exiled humanity. He promised us His presence. That’s why God gave His Son the name Emmanuel which literally means “God with us”.
Written around the 8th century, this hymn was meant to be sung antiphonally. This entailed alternate singing by two choirs, positioned on opposite sides of a sanctuary. The first choir would sing “O come, O come, Emmanuel” While the sound waves still resonated across the expanse, the 2nd choir began singing “And ransom captive Israel”. And so, they alternately sing line after line, ever growing in confident hope. The building reverberates with the glorious sounds. Heaven rejoices as God reaches out to exiled humanity.
THE SON OF GOD APPEARS
All the angelic hosts break loose singing “the Son of God appears! Rejoice! Rejoice!” Heaven resounds with exuberant jubilant song. This is not the half-hearted clapping for someone receiving a participation award. This is the full throttle choirs of the heavens stamping their feet because God has won! The highway leading to eternal separation from God now offers an off-ramp leading to eternal community, companionship, and peace with God. The exiles no longer must face separation from God.
GOD IS WITH US! DRAW NEAR!
For all of you longing, hungering for God, His promise has been fulfilled. O Lord, make safe the way that leads to Thee and close the path to misery. God is with us! Draw near!
We face a new year. Challenges and heartbreak which you never anticipated may try to tear apart your life in shockwaves of pain. However, whatever comes, God also invites you to unimaginable victory. God invites the exile home. He desires to spend every moment with us. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.”
RUN TO THE FATHER
Run to the Father. He offers you His eternal presence. Regardless of what 2026 brings, no longer do you have to remain in exile. Come home!
O come, O come, Emmanuel and ransom captive Israel. That mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appears. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, oh Israel
O come, Thou Key of David, come and open wide our heavenly home. Make safe the way that leads to thee and close the path to misery. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, oh Israel