update: a Christmas message

Merry Christmas to everyone! Instead of the usual update, filled with statistics of patients seen and announcements of events planned, this month I want to share a true story that highlights the real meaning of Christmas. It was told to me just yesterday by Barbara, one of my mother's friends.

THE CENTERPIECE

A few years ago Barbara attended an auction. Before she sat down, she spent some time surveying the various items that were to be sold. Her attention was drawn to a beautiful Christmas centerpiece. "This would be perfect for my dinner table," she thought. "I think I'll bid on it today."

Expectantly, she sat down at her table, waiting for the proceedings to begin.

Soon the auctioneer announced, "In a few minutes, we're going to bring your favorite items up here, and you can bid on them." Unfortunately, Barbara did not hear his first seven words. Rather, the announcement she heard was, "Bring your favorite items up here, and you can bid on them."

Acting on this, Barbara went to the display table and grabbed the Christmas centerpiece. Confidently, she brought it to the auctioneer.

"I want to bid on this Christmas centerpiece," she said.

The auctioneer seemed puzzled and somewhat amused. "Ma'am," he said politely, "you'll have an opportunity to bid on the centerpiece in a few minutes when the auction officially begins. But for now, you need to return it to the display area."

Barbara was embarrassed. She looked around, hoping no one else in the room had seen her gaffe (in her words, her "faux paux"). She sat down once again at her table, a dozen strangers around her. And she waited.

At last the time came for the beautiful Christmas centerpiece to be auctioned. Barbara placed several bids right away, but soon the price exceeded what her budget would allow. She sighed and begin to console herself. And she sat there at her table, waiting again, this time for the auction to end.

Making matters even worse, the highest bidder for the Christmas centerpiece was a physician at Barbara's table. She witnessed the look of satisfaction on his face as the bidding was closed. She watched as the centerpiece was brought to the table and handed to him. She listened to those around her as they complimented its beauty.

Even more so, she longed for the centerpiece. But, alas, it was not hers.

Just then, the physician placed the Christmas centerpiece right in front of Barbara. "It's yours!" he said. "Merry Christmas!"

Apparently he had witnessed it all. He had noticed her instant attraction to the centerpiece, her misguided attempt to purchase it before the auction began, her renewed hope as the bidding started, and her disappointment as the price exceeded her limits. He had seen all of this. And, sensing her longing, he had responded with true compassion, with love put into action.

That December, and every one since, Barbara's table has been adorned with that gift. Just this past week, she again gave the Christmas centerpiece its rightful place. The one she once longed for. The one she tried to secure before the time was right. The one she could not pay for on her own. But, thankfully, the one purchased at just the right time on her behalf.

What a beautiful picture of Christ's coming! Men and women long ago dreamed of obtaining salvation through a promised Messiah. He was "put on display" throughout the Old Testament, and they were attracted to him and longed for him. They tried many times and in many ways to bring that Messiah to earth, but their efforts were premature. They were told, "The time is not yet."

And so, they waited.

Even when "the fullness of time" came, they found the price of that salvation through the Messiah too high for themselves to obtain. All seemed lost. Hopelessness abounded.

But God, forever near, noticed and took action. He sensed the longing of men and women and saw their futile attempts to obtain salvation by their own means. With divine compassion and at the proper time, He gave them a Messiah and purchased their salvation on a cross. Then, three days later, he handed the risen Messiah to them as a free gift.

In this way, Jesus became the centerpiece of their lives... and of ours.

Joy to the world! The Lord has come!

Let earth receive her King.

Let ev'ry heart prepare Him room,

And heav'n and nature sing!

To all the Guatemalan and North American supporters of Four Friends International, I wish you a joyous Christmas season. I pray that you will place Christ, the Perfect Gift, at the center of your holiday. And I urge you to praise God, who has graciously fulfilled our longing and given us the Messiah.

Hallelujah! Christ has come!

Randy Stewart