From Scrooge to Eben-Ezer
Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will soon be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory. The people who walk in darkness will see a great light -- a light that will shine on all who live in the land where death casts its shadow (Isa. 9:1-2).
It's here! As much as I didn’t want it to come…it came! Suddenly it’s all over my television, in every store I visit, permeating my house and car with its music, and infiltrating every conversation. No matter how much I try to close my eyes to it and deafen my ears, I cannot keep it out. No! It’s not the Taylor Swift world tour! It’s Christmas. I just got through that awful thing called Halloween, and now, as if the stores are waiting for 12:01am of November 1st to arrive, we are inundated with signage, commercials, tacky music, displays and decorations all designed to get us to spend our hard- earned money, which is already being stolen from us on every front. I’m not sure what is happening to me, but as I age, this holiday seems less and less appealing to me…BAH HUMBUG! Then…there is my wife! The complete opposite! Out come the decorations! Loud goes the Christmas music! The discussions happen on who is hosting what. And all I can think about is going to an island to escape the whole thing! What’s wrong with me?
Me! That’s what is wrong with me! I need an attitude shift! Jesus is Good News! The world is living in darkness now, just as it was in first century Palestine. The Herods and Ceasars of old who ruled that part of the globe were ruthless, egotistical maniacs, unjust in their ways, more focused on preserving their own names and dynasties than justly serving the people they were supposed to be ruling (Matt. 2:1-19). Exorbitant taxes, political unrest, social discrimination, religious factions, wars and rumors of war, immorality, etc. The list is long of what was wrong with society 2000 years ago… just as it is today. It seems like the enemy is winning! Darkness and Despair – that’s how Isaiah described it. That’s how many would characterize our days. Death’s shadow is covering the whole land! There is only one cure for darkness…light! There is only one cure for despair…hope! There is only one cure for death…eternal life! The world is ripe for the Light, Hope and Life of the world to step into the world. And He did just that 2000 years ago. And He is still stepping into people’s darkness today!
Do you remember the day Jesus stepped into your darkness? I remember that day for me! Everything changed! It was a new beginning. The light literally shined in, and I saw the world differently. Actually, the word of God reminds us that when Jesus comes into our life, we are no longer of the darkness of the world, but now become light ourselves, to light up the world (Matt. 5:14-16); lights in our own generation (Phil. 2:15; Eph. 5:8-9). How much light does it take to dispel the darkness? Just one match; just one star; just one moon! The skies have been lit up of late, with comets and eclipses, full moons, the Aurora Borealis (Northern lights), seen all the way down here in Southern Ontario – a rare phenomenon! Could the Lord be saying something by displaying His glory in the dark skies, while the Earth is covered with gross darkness in the form of wars, social unrest and decay, political upheaval, division and depravity of all sorts. The Lord is always speaking if we choose to listen!
The world is dark! Many would agree with that. But, just as Jesus stepped into the darkness some 2,000 years ago, is He getting ready to step into this planet again for all those who are eagerly awaiting His glorious return and appearing? The words of Isaiah bring hope and joy: “Darkness as black as night will cover all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the LORD will shine over you. 3 All nations will come to your light. Mighty kings will come to see your radiance” ( Isaiah 60:2-3).
Is it possible friends, that God has allowed Christmas to happen once a year to remind people of the hope we have in Christ, the Light of the World who is returning to set up His eternal Kingdom? Is it possible that God is giving all of His redeemed an opportunity to shine the light of Christ in this crooked and perverse generation? Is it possible that as this season comes upon us at a time when the world seems to be in gross darkness, that many will come to the light of His presence and be saved, and ushered into the kingdom of our King? Is it possible that Christmas comes along once a year to re-align the grumpy Christians who have become discouraged and fruitless, to get them to take their eyes off the world’s problems and place them back on the Savior of the World? Maybe Christmas is designed for followers of Jesus to throw off their Scrooge and raise their Ebenezer – their ‘stone of help’ (1Sam. 7:12) to remember and proclaim all that the Lord has done for us in Christ. Put on the Christmas carols – listen to the words of the gospel declarers in songs, hymns and spiritual psalms. Get into the spirit of Christmas, or better yet…allow the Spirit of God to fill you with the glory of the One and Only, full of grace and truth. He will turn your Christmas darkness into glorious joy and dancing! I’m ready to decorate and sing of our great God and King!
Blessings!
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