An Invisible Visual
Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
What a perfect time to arrive at Isaiah 7:14 together and to recall afresh how Christ is still the Light of the world, even in days of deep darkness. But as you celebrate with friends and family the wonders of Christ’s birth over the next few days, pause to reflect on just how peculiar this most significant of signs really is. Think of all the jaw-dropping marvels God’s performed throughout the ages—from parting the Red Sea for Moses to stopping the sun’s orbit for Joshua to speaking through a donkey for Balaam. Unlike these, a virgin’s conception can’t be seen or heard or proven, right? That means The Incarnation is an invisible visual—a paradox of paradoxes. Don’t miss that, friend. Jonathan Swift claimed that “vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others”, but faith is a finer art than vision in that regard.
So put your Christmas traditions on hold for a moment, find a quiet place to rest in the Lord’s abiding nearness, and behold him with those eyes of faith that see Him best.