The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.
1 John 3.8
The assembly line of Satan turns out millions of sins every day. He packs them into huge cargo planes and flies them to heaven and spreads them out before God and laughs and laughs and laughs.
Some people work full-time on the assembly line of sin. Others have quit their job there and only now and then return. Every minute of work on the assembly line males God the laughingstock of Satan. Sin is Satan's business because he hates the light and beauty and purity and glory of God. Nothing pleases him more than when creatures distrust and disobey their Maker.
But Christmas is good news for mankind. "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (1 Timothy 1.15). That's good news for us. Why is it such good news? "The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work" (1 John 3.8).
Jesus has come to lead a strike at Satan's sin factory. He has walked right into the plant, called for solidarity of the faithful, and begun a massive walkout. Christmas is a call to walk off the assembly line. No negotiations with management. No collective bargaining. Just single-minded, unswerving opposition to the product.
Christmas solidarity aims to ground the cargo planes. it will not use force or violence, but with relentless devotion to truth it will expose the life-destroying conditions of the devil's industry. Christmas solidarity will not give up until a complete shutdown has been achieved. When sin has been destroyed, God's name will be wholly exonerated. No one will be laughing at him anymore.
If you want to give a gift to God this Christmas, walk off Satan's assembly line. Take up your place in the picket line of love. Join Christmas solidarity until the majestic name of God is cleared and he stands glorious amid the accolades of the righteous!
This is an excerpt from 'Joy to the World-Daily Readings for Advent' by John Piper.
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