Sunday, December 12, 2010

Celebrate by Believing!

Joy to the World and the Hallelujah Chorus are probably two of my favorite Christmas songs, although I do have a lot of favorites. What makes them so meaningful to me however isn't the fact that they turn my heart  to the first coming of Christ, but they move me to think of his second coming, the one yet to occur.  What's so funny is both of these "Christmas" songs don't mention the first advent at all, yet they remain as timeless classics in this season.

On the first Christmas a little baby is born, there's nothing spectacular about this.  Babies are born every minute of every day all around the world.  It was who the baby was that made this birth spectacular.  This little baby was born to die.  This little baby was born so that we could live.  This little baby was born so that his followers throughout the ages could bring people to God, so that they could truly know Him.  If it stops here however there's no hope.  An imperfect world is not worthy of great celebration.  Our world is full of pain, sorrow, and war.  It is the perfect world and heaven which are to come that deserve our joy and bring us hope. 

When Christ first came, there were few who knew He was King of all creation   just by looking at him.  The Shepherds had to be told where to find the King, the wisemen were led by a star.  (Only Simeon and Anna seem to have been able to tell who Jesus was at first glance.)  Knowing my Savior came to this world for me in the lowliest of ways brings me happiness, but knowing that he will return in full glory, King of Kings and Lord of Lords upon a White Horse clothed in Majesty brings me absolute JOY.

It's not enough to celebrate Christ's first coming this Christmas season.  The true meaning of Christmas is not just found in the manger, it's also found on the Cross, in our salvation and in the hope of eternity.  To go through one more Christmas season without Christ's precious promise of eternal life would be a tragedy.  The hope of the world that is to come, that is so beautifully painted in the carol Joy to the World, cannot be found without the forgiveness that is in Christ, and without Christ's forgiveness Christmas is just a birth of another baby, it just so happens to be one that much of the world chooses to celebrate.

John 3:16 states it clearer than any verse I know, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotton son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."  Jesus was sent so that we would believe.  What better way to celebrate the coming of God's only son than to trust your life to Him and become a part of God's family?  I pray that you receive the most important gift this Christmas season, that you choose to receive the gift of God's salvation, so that you can truly celebrate the Joy of Christmas. (What must I do to be saved?) And for those of us who are a part of God's family, let us share this true JOY with others so they may know it too! (An easy way to do this is just share this post with someone either on facebook, email, twitter or any other internet wonder I haven't mentioned : - ) )

Wishing you a Blessed Holiday!
Kasey

Joy to the World , the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, 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,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, 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,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

Watts

5 comments:

  1. What a beautiful post. Thank you for sharing about this free GIFT, our salvation! As the song says "joy to the world, the Lord is come!" We wait no longer, He is here!

    Thanks for linking up to Making Your Home Sing Monday.

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  2. So true. His first coming and the gift of salvation leads us to look forward to His second coming. Joy to the world for sure.
    Blessings,
    Charlotte

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  3. Always love the reminder of our salvation, we have much to be thankful for each day.

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  4. I love the "Joy to the World" song! Thank you so much for visiting my blog and following. I am following you back. Have a wonderful day!

    Blessings
    Mrs. White

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