“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced; burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. Then I said, "Here I am, I have come -- it is written about me in the scroll. I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart." I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, as you know, O LORD. I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly,”
[Psalm 40:6-10]
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder. For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this,” [Isaiah 9:2-7]
“I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession,” [Psalm 2:7-8]
And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth,” [Revelation 5:9-10]
As I looked, "thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.. "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed… and the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever -- yes, for ever and ever'… The Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom… Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him,” [Daniel 7:9ff]
We have a real reason to be merry –the Son of Man has already humbled Himself by coming into the world, has redeemed us from sin at the cross, has overcome the grave, has therefore been exalted and given a Name Higher than any other name and now intercedes for us as God’s High Priest on our behalf. He truly is the Friend of all friends. But it gets even better than that: HE’S COMING BACK TO GET US! And, friends, I really do believe that the time of His Return is very near. We cannot now celebrate His birth or His resurrection without giving attention to why He came or why He overcame the grave and the world: A New Order is upon us. The Rightful King will very soon be given His inheritance. And when that begins, the reign of the evil one will have finally come to an end. The Light has come.
And though we don’t celebrate “mass” (we know that Christ no longer suffers bodily but has been exalted and glorified –the cross is now empty, as is the tomb), we do have a reason to celebrate (maybe we should call it “Merry Christ-FOREVER!” ?).
The Church is a testimony to the wisdom and power of Christ on earth. The Church is a testimony to the fact that human beings CAN resist evil and return to God. And the Church is a testimony to the fact that there’s going to be a grand wedding very soon. And when the Bridegroom does return to get His Bride, the Son of Man will approach the Father to receive His inheritance. And all the saints, together with Jesus, will overcome the evil one with the Power of Heaven. With the very breath of His mouth, the very Word that He utters, all evil will be extinguished. And then the Lord Jesus will reign on David’s throne. The Law will go out from Zion. The Rightful Ruler will take possession of the whole earth and He will teach everyone what peace really is. What will it be like to sit at the feet of Jesus and hear His surpassing wisdom? What will it be like to fellowship with Abraham, David, Daniel and John? What will it be like when the voices of all the redeemed sing a new song TOGETHER to the Lamb who was slain to pay our deepest debt? As the song says, “I can only imagine!” This is the Message of Christmas: Peace on earth, good will to men. The Prince of Peace now reigns forevermore! And He is COMMITTED to our deliverance and He is COMMITTED to His Father’s House. Beloved, do not focus on darkness. We cannot give the evil one any honor –he is not worthy of our fear. But let us, in reverent fear of God, ponder and rejoice over the things that shall soon take place: The Light is coming to completely overwhelm and destroy the darkness. CHRIST IS COMING! And the “Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come’.”
Merry Christ-FOREVER!
George