According to the angel's viewpoint, the birth of such a notable individual warrants immense joy for many, promoting a celebration as widespread as the positive influence of his triumph.
The son of heaven regards earthly matters through a heavenly lens, as evident in his definition of true greatness: "be great before the Lord." The angel conveys that not every manifestation of greatness inspires joy; only the kind that is esteemed in the presence of the Lord. This truth justifies our current celebration, as the one who is "great before the Lord" has been anointed by Him and strives to wield that greatness for righteous deeds, the protection of faith, and brave defense of Christ’s name against His adversaries, to whom the Lord responds with His victorious shield.
Although few are destined for greatness to bring joy to many, it is human nature to desire that even a small life be marked by joy that touches both oneself and others. Thus, it is essential for both the humble and the exalted to grasp the angel's message that every source of genuine joy or flourishing is only secure when established in the Lord. It is crucial to recognize how misguided humanity is when it seeks to build foundations of greatness or excellence independently, apart from God, forgetting Him altogether.
For the truth stands that man, a created being, is nothing without his Creator, who fashioned existence from nothing. What can a being derived from nothing produce of its own? Yet God is all and provides everything to His creations, granting them being and their attributes. If their perfection and well-being originated solely from God in the beginning, how could they attain them differently in subsequent times, given their continued dependence as on the day of creation?
To believe one has independent existence post-creation, akin to a structure which persists even if its builder is gone, confuses the fundamental differences between the creation by man and that by God. Man crafts from pre-existing materials, ensuring something remains after he finishes. God, however, creates from nothing; without His active will, nothing would endure. His eternal nature assures us that His actions cannot be likened to those of temporal beings. While creation has ceased for creatures, it perpetually continues from God’s eternal perspective. Therefore, as God's action confers and sustains existence, humanity cannot escape this divine engagement. Likewise, while God bestows well-being, humans, having freedom, may stray from this providential work, potentially resulting in their deprivation of the good bestowed by God.
If anyone doubts these truths, they should reflect on the Word of God. “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work” (John 5:17), states the Son of God. Elsewhere, He affirms, “Without Me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). The apostle remarks that in Him, “we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28). The psalmist proclaims, “I will open My hand, and all shall be filled with goodness; but if I hide My face, they shall be troubled” (Psalm 103:28-29), particularly regarding humanity: “They that remove themselves from Thee shall perish” (Psalm 72:27). If God, though having created the world and resting from His work, still “worketh,” we must conclude that this continuous work is necessary for the good of His creations as it would be unfathomable for God to engage in futile labor. Therefore, woe to those who separate themselves from or hinder this divine work!
As living and free beings, humans are capable of action, yet if their endeavors are not placed before the Lord, lack a foundation in Him, and ignore His work, the most one can anticipate is conflict between human effort and divine purpose. Since God’s work is undeniably superior, it follows that human endeavors, when not aligned with Him, will inevitably face dissolution. Given our dependence on the One who “upholds all things by the word of His power” (Heb. 1:3), it must be acknowledged that works conducted without God are not only unreliable but ultimately devoid of worth. This leads to pondering how works of the ungodly persist despite being contrary to God’s will.
Yet this perplexity is resolved by recognizing God’s universal creative and providing actions that sustain all things, such that even the wicked and His adversaries partake in His bounty as mere creatures. This is granted not because of their wickedness, which opposes God’s desires, but for the sake of preserving their existence, maintaining their freedom—an irrevocable gift from God, and offering them time to repent, as well as honoring the principles of justice that require a rendering of judgment against wrongdoing. Sacred Scripture avers, “Sinners shall perish” (Psalm 91:8). Just as wild grass among cultivated crops enjoys the farmer's yield while remaining an intruder, the actions of sinners thrive by God’s providential power but remain distanced from Him because they arise contrary to His design and intentions. Thus, they await the judgement that shall purify the land of sin.
“When the wicked perish like grass and all who do iniquity vanish," it is so that they may be consumed throughout eternity” (Psalm 91:8). If God is the source of our existence, “in Him we live, and move, and are” (Acts 17:28), is it not critical to discern if our lives reflect our proximity or distance from Him? The implication of living away from God—while He is omnipresent—demands careful contemplation.
How can one be said to be distant from God, and what does this separation entail? This is explained clearly by God Himself. “These people draw nigh unto Me with their mouths, but their hearts are far from Me” (Matthew 15:8). Thus, our separation from God is not defined by geographical distance, rather by the intent and direction of our hearts and actions—essentially the heart, mouth, mind, and deeds. If your heart lacks a faithful love and yearning for God, it is distant from Him. If your thoughts do not ascend to the knowledge of His will, or if your actions are undertaken without regard for Him, then those acts stray from His presence.
There is little to say about verbal claims of closeness to God; if even superficial approaches with the mouth are inadequate, how lacking in worth must genuine distance be? Having assessed the condition of separation from God, should we not fearfully consider how quickly calamity and destruction can ensue? Yet what we find is not a mere distance but an imminent danger, as if “behold, they that draw away from Thee shall perish.” In moments of introspection, we may be astounded by the many actions taken in thoughtlessness.
Who among us, when rightly reflecting, does not acknowledge that everything is from God, that everything is contingent upon His authority, and that without Him there can be no good? Yet upon closer examination of our lives, many may discover, and confess, a tendency to act as if God is irrelevant, indulging in desires and actions as though He does not exist. O God, “in Him we live, and move, and have our being.” What must Your ministers do at times? Remind us of Your presence? Urge us not to forget You?
And this call to remember holds particular poignancy for Christians, those whom You have drawn near, united through Your Son and the Holy Spirit. O patient and merciful God, do not forget us as we forget You. Do not forsake us in our withdrawal. Instead, may Your grace, which conquers all sin, draw us closer, leading our actions nearer to You and establishing our thoughts in Your will. May we not merely remember You in fear but look upon You in faith and remain steadfast. Let Your mighty name illuminate our minds and invigorate our hearts, let Your law be the foundation of our actions, and may our joy blossom abundantly in Your presence. Amen.
THEOSIS