The chaos has begun! All of the hustle and bustle of another busy Christmas season. From shopping for that perfect present to the various Christmas parties that we attend. It is a beautiful time of the year when we enjoy those around us and celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Christmas or Christ-Mass means the worship of Christ. You must remember a few things as you worship Christ during this time of the year.
First, this is the Advent season. The Advent season celebrates the birth and the coming of Christ. But it also anticipates His triumphant return. He is coming again! Brothers and Sisters in Christ, you can be excited about His return. We can expect His return. The first time that He came, he came lowly and humble. He was born in a manger and worked as a carpenter. He dealt with sin and gave us access to the Father. He stood in the gap for us and hung on the cross. They abused Him, rejected Him, neglected Him, and murdered Him. But when He returns, he will be “coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory, (Matthew 24:30 NASB).” You will not find Him tied to the whipping post this time. You will not find Him nailed to a tree this time around. When He comes, He will finally deal with the most challenging enemy you and I have to face: death. It is the “last enemy to be abolished, (1 Cor. 15:26 NASB).” When He returns, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that He is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11). He is coming back! This Christmas, anticipate His return.
The other thing that you need to remember is that He is “God with us.” Isaiah prophesied, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel, (Isaiah 7:14 NASB).” Talk about something to anticipate, the moment when God is with us. This prophecy was fulfilled over two thousand years ago (Matthew 1:22-23). Immanuel means “God with us.” We sing Christmas songs that reflect this truth. Do you ever stop to think that God is still with us? I do not mean Jesus in the flesh. He is at the right hand of God, making intercession for us (Romans 8:34). When He left this earth and ascended to Heaven (Acts 1:9-11), He did not leave us by ourselves. This was His promise to the disciples. He told them, “I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you. After a little while, the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you will live also, (John 14:18-19 NASB).” Jesus’ prophetic words came to life on Pentecost (Acts 2). God is still with us! He did not just come, live, die, and leave us. God is still with us! No matter what you face each day, He is with us. When we get bad news from the doctor, God is with us. When there is turmoil and chaos, God is with us. When we face death, He is still with us. Who do we have to fear? What do we have to worry about? He is Immanuel, God with us.
Celebrate His coming, and Anticipate His return!
Pastor Josh May
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