I have several friends facing serious medical crises during this beautiful time of the year that we celebrate the most holy of holidays, Christmas. I pray for them each day, petitioning God to heal them and make them whole so they, their family, and friends can enjoy more time together. I know Jesus hears my prayers and will answer one way or another. We of course only want the answer of “Yes, I will heal them”. But we know that God doesn’t always answer yes. So, we oftentimes are left to live anxiety-filled days worrying about the fate of our loved ones and praying they will make it to see another Christmas.
Most everyone I know is scurrying around making last-minute purchases of Christmas gifts and preparing to visit family for Christmas. I was thinking of my seriously ill friends, and I know many of them are lying in bed lamenting the fact that they are simply too bad off to get out and buy or give gifts or visit loved ones.
I was contemplating that given my age I may not have that many Christmas celebrations remaining on this beautiful little planet. This line of thought led me to contemplate what heaven might be like this time of year. When I ponder celebrating Christmas and the birth of Christ in heaven, I’m reminded of that beautiful song I can only imagine.
I dream of being surrounded by His glory as I listen to an angelic choir and countless saints singing, O’ Come let us adore Him. There we will praise God in a glorious setting devoid of sin and its ramifications and even the air that we breathe will be filled with love. I will join others who have gone before me and together, spellbound, we will marvel at the revealing of God’s majesty.
There will be no crowded streets with merchants frantically hawking their wares; just those who love our Savior crying with joy at being with Jesus who voluntarily gave His life in exchange for ours. Christmas in heaven, yes, one can only imagine how it must be. I don’t know about you but these thoughts that I truly believe were put in my old gray head by the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, make me more at ease when interacting with my friends who are approaching those beautiful days ahead of them.
With God, there is always hope. Without him, well, I don’t see how people can bear the pain. Remember that Jesus is the reason for the season. We are celebrating HIS birth and Santa and gifts given to each other often get in the way of recognizing this most holy of holy holidays.
Maybe you have felt great despair this year because of the passing of a loved one; your mom, your dad, your sister, or your brother. Maybe you felt despair because things seem so uncertain with illness of another loved one, or because a spouse lost their job, unexpected medical bills were incurred, or money was tight. Maybe you felt despair because you just couldn’t afford something you needed or wanted or perhaps because you couldn’t provide for those whom you love. Or still, maybe yet, you felt despair because your sin seemed over your head. Simply put, I bet all of us have felt anxiety in this past year.
But God . . .
When grace causes your heart to rest in these truths, you no longer will live a need-obsessed, worry-obsessed or a despairing life but are freed to give yourself to the worship (and service of God). We have a God that is actively pursuing us, lovingly courting us, and passionately redeeming us. Let’s celebrate Him this Christmas.
Zechariah 2:10
“Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the LORD. And many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day and shall be my people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you.”