CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS

And the angel said to them, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:10-11).

He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be morning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away (Revelation 21:3b-4).

There shall no more be anything accursed . . . (Revelation 22:3a).

What would the world be like without Christmas?  It would be a world without joy because it would be a world without hope; the hope that only Jesus the Christ can bring.  One of the reasons that Jesus is our hope is because Jesus fulfills prophecy--every Old Testament prophecy about the first coming of the Messiah has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Another reason that Jesus the Messiah is our hope is that he has conquered death in his resurrection from the dead.  This means, of course, that his word is true and his promises are true and that death is NOT THE LAST WORD!

Another reason that Jesus Christ is our hope is the dynamic change in the lives of those who believe in him and submit to his lordship.  They have experienced the love of Christ and thus love others.  Tertullian noted that nonChristians said about Christians, "See how they love one another" (Tertullian was a 3rd century Latin church father).  The lives of believers begin to take on the character of Christ because the Holy Spirit is at work in their lives.

No wonder Isaac Watts wrote: Joy to the world! The Lord is come.  Let earth receive her king.  Let ev'ry heart prepare Him room, and heav'n and nature sing.

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!  Far as, far as the curse is found.

Not all has been realized yet, but it soon will be.

Grace&Peace,
Tom