In 1977, NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration launched the Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft on a mission to explore Jupiter and Saturn. After a number of discoveries, Voyager 1 and 2 continued traveling to Neptune and Pluto, making them the only spacecraft to have traveled to these outer planets.

In 2012, Voyager 1 entered “interstellar space,” the region beyond these far planets, nearing the boundaries of our Sun’s sphere of influence. Voyager 2 isn’t too far behind.

While the discoveries of these spacecraft are mind-blowing and awe-inspiring, what’s amazing to me is what we sent with them. Before launch, Golden Records containing “The Sounds of Earth” were created and attached to both Voyager spacecraft, covered by special cases featuring pictorial instructions to play them. Should other civilizations (according to NASA) ever happen upon either spacecraft and be able to decipher the instructions on the cover, they’ll hear a child’s laugh, works of Beethoven, greetings in 55 languages, and a lot more.

What’s even more amazing is that while we are trying to contact the cosmos, the God who created the cosmos is trying to contact you and me. Jesus is the perfect “golden record,” a loud and clear message of God’s love, mercy and grace. He designed and created you with a heart to know and love Him.

Christmas is a story of how God did not just send an album containing a glimpse of heaven neither did He send just a representative to let us know He is real. He sent His only Son to come for us. God knew that as humans, we can never reach Him or even get close to Him so He sent Christmas down. 

Yes, Christmas is not just an event that happens every year, if you really look at what the Bible is telling us, Christmas is a person. Christmas is a story of a God who came down while we were down here hopeless and meaningless. Jesus was not just the “sound of heaven” letting us know what heaven looked like, but He was heaven coming down to us. 

So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness… John 1:14 NLT

Another translation that I like…

The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish. John 1:14 The Message 

When Christmas came, He came to bring hope for the hopeless.

When Christmas came, He came to bring Joy to our weary hearts.

When Christmas came, He came to free us from whatever is enslaving us.

When Christmas came, He came to give us life and have it to the full.

When Christmas came, He came for those who doesn’t want anything to do with God.

When Christmas came, He came for those who are in darkness.

When Christmas came, He has forever changed the meaning of this season.

Jesus, the hero, the star, the reason, the meaning and the person of Christmas came, and He came for you and me…

So whether you are ready to celebrate or you have every reason not to celebrate Christmas this year, remember that Christmas came for you. 

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:8-11 ESV

 

 

[Image via NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration]

Photo by Gareth Harper on Unsplash