Yeah, I know this post is late, forgive me....
We have entered into this season of Christmas. Everywhere we turn, there is talk about Christmas. From commercialization to spending time with family. We look forward to it with an amazing enthusiasm. Why? Why do we do what we do? It is
Because
Of
Jesus
It was what happened 2000+ years ago that enables us to have this holiday. Nothing else. And no matter how the world tries to de-emphasize Christ, listen to what Brennan Manning says:
“In the month of December, he strikes both the sacred and secular spheres of life with sledgehammer force. Suddenly, Jesus is everywhere, his presence inescapable. We may accept him or reject him, affirm him or deny him, but we cannot ignore him. Of course he is proclaimed in speech, song, and symbol in all Christian churches. But he rides every red-nosed reindeer, lurks behind every Barbie doll, and resonates in the desacralized ‘Season’s Greetings.’ Remotely or proximately, he is toasted in every cup of Christmas cheer. Each sprig of holly is a hint of his holiness. Each cluster of mistletoe is a sign he is here.”[1]
Christmas is not the only day we should look forward to in regards to Christ and salvation. There is another day coming that no one knows about, and whether or not they will acknowledge, they will acknowledge who God is. Jesus talks about it like this:
"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”[2]
Isn’t that exciting? You can’t wait for that to happen can you? I think if we are honest, I think that you will agree with me in that it is unfortunate that we look at Christ’s Return in a totally different light. We look at Christ’s coming with hesitation. We want him to come but at the same time we want to live our lives. We act weary and asleep. I’m not saying we should spend our lives consumed with the end of it all, which is defined theologically as the Eschatology. Listen to what Paul says,
“And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”[3]
He says to not be weary of it. He even more so does not say to be consumed with your it. He is telling the Believers of Rome, and us, that this time is coming to end. That the coming of Christ is close and that we ought to be excited. He equates with the ending time of day. Here on one side we have the night. The night is suffering, hardship, living a life plagued by sin. But the coming of day is the return of Christ. The restoration of the way things are suppose to be.
Paul says to, “So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.” He says that we ought to be going about doing what God wants us to do and to not live lives that call into question who we are as believers or violates what we know to be wrong: things like addiction, sexual immorality, dissension, and hatred. How do we do it? Through clothing ourselves “…with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” By taking Jesus Christ’s teachings and living them. To shun what is evil. Greed, consumerism, racism, betrayal, lying, stealing, killing, anything that is not from God.
So let us be excited for the coming Joy that is Jesus’ return. Let us run with hope to the masses.
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