A Weary World Rejoices
On a scale from the Grinch to Buddy the Elf, where do you find yourself? I land somewhere in the middle. It’s not that I loathe the holidays entirely, but it’s difficult to enjoy them. I don’t feel super cheery even while putting up Christmas decorations with the classic holiday songs singing in the background.
I’m not saying that for any sympathy, but only because given the year we’ve had, maybe you find yourself in a similar spot.
PROPHETIC PROMISES
This Christmas season it’s worth remembering that over 2000 years ago the world was suffering in silence with no word from above. There was a promise of a Messiah. A prophecy, yet to be fulfilled, said the God of Abraham would come to redeem his people. The prophet Isaiah boldly claimed that a baby would be born and he would be called, “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6),” and not only that but, “by his wounds we would be healed (Isaiah 53:5).”
But in the days of Mary and Joseph’s childhoods, that promise was centuries old. God had gone seemingly quiet. I wonder if the more generations that passed, the more people felt detached from the great spiritual giants of the Old Testament. I wonder if they thought the ancient Scriptures were outdated and irrelevant. Maybe some even mocked the ‘foolish’ who still put their hope in the words of a long-gone prophet like Isaiah. However, what was folklore for some was a lifeline of faith for a few.
Christmas celebrates hope fulfilled. The centuries-old Messianic promise of a Savior hadn’t expired. Jesus was born.
THE REASON TO REJOICE
There’s a common verse that is quoted a lot when things get tough. In Romans it says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).”
Typically we place the emphasis on the word good, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but try placing the emphasis on a few different words:
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
‘God works… according to his purpose’
God is working. He’s working according to His purpose, and His purpose is clear.
Jesus came to bridge the gap between the Creator and the created. God has been working to re-establish the broken connection, beauty, intimacy, and perfection that he first created in the Garden of Eden.
God was at work when His holy presence was with the Arc of the Covenant and placed in the Temple. He was working towards a restored connection when His presence took on flesh in a manger in Bethlehem. He was working when that flesh was broken and bore the payment for our sin. He was working when He miraculously rose from the grave - the ultimate victory over death, and a beautiful foreshadow of what is yet to come for His redeemed. He was working when His Spirit fell on the church so that by grace, through faith, we may be dead to our sins and fully alive in His Spirit – more connection, beauty, intimacy, and closer to perfection.
Do you notice the progression? Do you marvel at the fulfillment of prophecies? God is at work; continually breathing life into his promises of hope, according to his purpose.
ETERNAL REJOICING
The thing is, He’s not done. He’s still working. The full circle of His purpose has yet to come to fruition, and no one knows the day or hour it will be complete. But we wait eagerly, with hope, for the return of Jesus.
A different prophecy of Isaiah holds another bold proclamation,
“He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from the earth, for the Lord has spoken. It will be said on that day, ‘Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us rejoice in his salvation (Isaiah 25:8,9).’”
These words may be folklore to some, but to others, it’s the hope of all hopes. And until that prophecy is fulfilled, we have the very Spirit of God who is making all things new in preparation for the Great Renewal. A new Heaven and a new Earth for those who love him and who have been called according to his purpose (Revelation 21:1-4).
I don’t rejoice because I feel cheery when I’m putting up my Christmas decorations. I rejoice because of the hope Christmas gave us in the first place. You can rejoice, too. Our Savior is faithful to plant joy deep within the weary heart. That joy doesn’t always manifest in happiness as the world sees it, but instead, it gives divine strength to keep going.
This weary world can rejoice because God showed up.
God’s promise to you is faithful and true, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13).”
Jesus didn’t leave the world in perfect condition, but He left His followers with his perfect presence. I can’t think of a better time to seek Jesus, don’t put him off.
He may just show up again soon.
