A merry Christmas to everybody! A happy New Year to all the world!”
–Charles Dickens
“Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory…. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”
“Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory…. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”
–1 Timothy 3:16; Revelation 22:20 (NIV)
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“Now, the tree is decorated with bright merriment, and song, and dance and cheerfulness. And they are welcome. Innocent and welcome be they ever held, beneath the branches of the Christmas Tree, which cast no gloomy shadow! But, as it sinks into the ground, I hear a whisper going through the leaves. ‘This, in commemoration of the law of love and kindness, mercy and compassion. This, in remembrance of Me!’”
–Charles Dickens
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“Now, the tree is decorated with bright merriment, and song, and dance and cheerfulness. And they are welcome. Innocent and welcome be they ever held, beneath the branches of the Christmas Tree, which cast no gloomy shadow! But, as it sinks into the ground, I hear a whisper going through the leaves. ‘This, in commemoration of the law of love and kindness, mercy and compassion. This, in remembrance of Me!’”
–Charles Dickens
If we’re not careful, in the midst of all the fun, shopping, decorating, eating, watching, laughing, and whatever else we might do on Christmas, we might forget the reason that the Babe was lying in a manger. It was not just a whim of Almighty God. It had purpose–it has purpose. Jesus was born to die.
We all die, but that is not our goal in life. Here we have Jesus who came to be the propitiation for our sins. He came to redeem mankind back to God and that required the death of the perfect sacrifice which was Him. Go ahead, take a look at your tree (even if artificial) and know that Jesus came to die upon a “tree,” upon an old rugged cross. Suffering and shame were the ornaments placed upon Him.
One other thing, know this, that part of His purpose in dying was for complete redemption. The time is near, in fact, the time is now. We look down at the manger scene. We see the Babe lying, helpless, being cared for by His mother. Now, because of His birth, life, and sacrifice we should be looking up. The next time we see Him He will be in the clouds, calling us home.
The rejoicing of Christmas should include not only the birth of Christ, but also the knowledge that He is coming soon. Be ready!
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This is the last Echo, until I don’t know when. Perhaps until next year. Hmmm, think of that, another year gone, another on the horizon.