Mountainview Moments

Emmanuel, God with us – December 25, 2025

By Austin Colley, Pastor of Mountainview Community Church

Matthew 1:23, “Behold, the virgin shall be with Child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.”

As I think back on Christmas, my mind travels back to some of the greatest memories of my childhood. Putting up the Christmas tree with my mother, family gatherings where there was always too much food, and the great anticipation of Christmas morning. It has always been a season to look forward to, with much joy and cheer. As much as I hold these memories dear, as I have gotten older, my joy now comes from something much purer and truer.

Not to neglect the blessings that the Lord has given me in my family and the times we have had together, but to see and understand that there is a much greater truth to Christmas is such a grace from God. In fact, the title “Christmas” has the word “Christ” as the root of it. If study is given, the term as a whole means mass or service unto the worship of Jesus, the Christ. The observation and worship of Immanuel, “God with us,” as He lowered Himself and was born of a virgin birth.

John 1:14, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

In a time that has commercialized Christmas, there needs to be a great turning back to its’ true meaning. Not a time to give gifts and indulge our wants, but a time to give gifts in reflection of the greatest gift ever given by God, His Son. Not a time to gluttonously overeat, but a time to thank the Lord for His provision, the greatest being Jesus. In summary, not a time to worship ourselves, but a time to worship our Creator and Savior, Jesus Christ. This does not rob us of joy but gives joy abundantly and everlasting.

Often, our minds go to a baby in the manger, in the lowly town of Bethlehem. We fix our gaze there, and rightfully so, as it is a prophetic and divine scene, a part of the Gospel. Yet, God the Father sends His Son to be born of a virgin birth for a Salvific purpose. The virgin birth does matter because Jesus is not born into iniquity as a mortal man yet is righteous from His birth to the ascension. As the great pastor and theologian, John Piper, once said in paraphrase, “In the great scene of the of the manger, where the Second Head of the Trinity is lowered and born into mankind, in the background is sin, and this is why He has come, for God’s plan, to take care of sin as the perfect Lamb of God without blemish.” You see, Christ Jesus is born so that He may be lifted up on Calvary’s cross, and to the glory of the Father and the Son. With the virgin birth on full display, which we celebrate this time of year, there is the understanding that it is a part of the Gospel, the Gospel which leads to the crucifixion and resurrection of the Son, Jesus.

Mark 1:15, And saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel.”

The greatest gift ever given was Christ the Son, a baby born in a manger. While the world was dark, the Light had come into the World by God’s predetermined plan. Not given for the glory of man, but for the salvation of all who would repent of their sin and trust in Jesus. He came and accomplished the will of God the Father, defeating death, Hell, and the grave. It is by His blood we are healed and forgiven, and His righteousness that we are unblemished before God. In this season, all praise be to Christ Jesus the Lord.

May all have a Merry Christmas, and may our hearts be filled with joy as we worship the Lord.

To be Absent from the Body and to be at Home with the Lord – March 24, 2025

By Austin Colley, Pastor of Mountainview Community Church

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 – “(6) Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord- (7) for we walk by faith, not by sight- (8) we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.”

A biblical promise that all Christians hold on to is “to be absent from the body, is to be present with the Lord (vs. 8).” It is such a sweet truth from the Word of God. Often, the Apostle Paul would write of how it would be better to be in the presence of the Lord, than still in the body. In Philippians 1:21, Paul also says “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” While we wait on the return of the King or our time that He has allotted for us, where which we will lay this body down, we live by faith. We have not seen God, but our hearts and minds have been awakened to the Gospel by the power of the Holy Spirit. We live by faith, which we have been gifted (Ephesians 2:8-10), and praise God for that. I find joy, comfort, and peace in knowing that one day if I leave this earth by death, I will see my Lord and Savior face to face. He is truly the Treasure of Heaven and worthy to be praised for an eternity. I have no need to fear death, as death has lost its sting (1 Corinthians 15:55-57). I stand alive in Christ now and stand alive in Jesus forever, as I have been justified before the Father (Romans 3:26). All true Christians can be of good courage because we hold fast to the promises of God and know they are immovable and true (vs. 6,8).

As my grandfather went Home to see the Lord recently, he held to this truth. He held to this truth because he trusted in Jesus for salvation and knew that He was the only way. As heartbroken as I am and will be for some time; I know I will see him again. It is not in despair that I live, for I know who holds my past, my present, and my future. I also know who holds my grandfather in Heaven and that He is worshipping the Lord with all his heart, soul, and mind, as he was created to do. I look forward to the day when I will bow before the Lord in Heaven, look over and see my “Papa” bowing and worshipping to. Oh, what a day that will be….

“What a day that will be, when my Jesus I shall see, when I look upon His face, the One who saved me by His grace, then He’ll take me by the hand, and lead me through the Promise Land, oh what a day, glorious day that will be. They’ll be no sorrow there, no burdens to bear, no more sickness and no more pain, no more parting over there, and forever I will be with the One who died for me, oh what a day, glorious day that will be (What a Day That Will Be, James Hill, 1955).”

In memory of “Papa Read.” All honor and glory to the Lord God.