Around this time as I prepare my Christmas Message to be sent, I utter the same words: Where have the days gone? 12 months have slipped away and here we are facing yet another year! I know for some, the last 12 months have brought great sadness. Losing someone you love dearly leaves a hole that never seems to close, altering one’s life forever. We as a family have not escaped this heartache.
Eventually the pain may fade away, but the gap left behind never closes. And yet, Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of the Saviour of the World.
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
Joy to the earth, the Saviour reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills,
And plains repeat the sounding joy,
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love.
These lyrics are familiar to untold millions, especially at this time of year, sung by churchgoers worldwide. Multitudes can hum the tune, and many remember the words. Sadly, few know what they mean. Biblical Christians rejoice at the message this song conveys because most of us understand its significance.
There is no doubt that the world craves joy. Regrettably, the prospect of this craving dissolves when people are ignorant regarding the conditions for joy to the world. Yes, indeed there are conditions to possessing real, satisfying Joy.
1st we must recognise that THE LORD HAS COME!
2nd we must ACCEPT HIM!
3rd our hearts must be prepared to RECEIVE HIM!
4th we must TRUST HIM!
Then and only then can we sing: And Heaven and nature sing, Joy to the earth, the Saviour reigns!
Our sadness during the past 12 months can only melt away as we realise the full impact of the birth of The Saviour of the World and the penalty paid by Him.
His declaration from the Cross on Calvary’s Hill was explicit and unmistakeable:
IT IS FINISHED!
The Greek term used is tetelestai, which was found marked on bills of sale during the time of Christ and meant:
PAID IN FULL!
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 1 John 4:9
Therefore, the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. Isaiah 51:11
How could we ask for more? We celebrate God’s greatest gift to mankind:
THE BIRTH OF JESUS HIS SON – OUR SAVIOUR
Glory to God, peace and goodwill to men.
This still echoes from Calvary, just as it did then.
For the love call of Heaven
Came through great suffering and loss,
Proclaimed o’er the cradle,
‘Twas procured at the Cross.
Dear friends, may this Christmas be a time of joy and celebration, and as we enter 2020 may we be obedient to His Word and determine to live for Him and Him alone, day by day, until He comes!
I cannot think of anything better to do than to rejoice in the knowledge that this earth, with all its problems, is not our home, because as believers, we are merely passing through.
Our Saviour has gone ahead to prepare a place and we will be with Him forever!
Finally, I would like to leave you with a quote from Michelangelo which I am especially fond of. He was discussing life with an old friend of his.
His friend said: Yes, after such a good life, it’s hard to look death in the eye.
Not at all! Contradicted Michelangelo. Since life was such a pleasure, death coming from the same Source cannot displease us.
With much love to you all.