Years ago I was listening to the radio when a worldly, non-practicing Jew started singing about the virgin birth of our Savior! Seriously? I thought, how ridiculous! But the more I thought about it, hey, if the rocks can cry out “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Luke 19:38-40), why can’t anyone sing “ ’round yon virgin, mother and child, holy infant so tender and mild…”!?!?
Although I am saddened by the choices that my country has made over the last fifty years regarding my God and His moral law, rather than sulk, I have chosen to place my hope in the coming kingdom of God that will have no end, and to enjoy living my life during this exciting prophetic time to the fullest. (Phil. 4:11-13) Christmas is a great time to do just that. While it is true that, for many, Christmas has become Xmas and it seems to be all about elves and money, we can, however, notice God’s glory all around us (Ps 72:18-19), that is, if we’re looking for it (Proverbs 11:27).
Let me explain............
Do You Hear What I Hear?
What are they singing?
............Every Christmas season, TV shows have people singing, “Glory to the newborn king!” and, “Gloria, in excelsis Deo!” (Glory to God in the highest!) Oh, and how about, “Christ (Messiah) is born in Bethlehem!?!? Oh, and every year, (I love this!) heads of state throughout the world, many of whom do not acknowledge the God of the Bible nor His Son, will stand to honor the singing of the Hallelujah Chorus, as is the custom established by King George II at the London premiere of Handel’s Messiah in 1743! In doing so, they will honor the statements, “Hallelujah” (Praise the Lord), “the Lord, God omnipotent reigneth,” “The kingdom of our God and of His Christ is come,” and “Of His kingdom there shall be no end!” Whether they know it or not, these people are giving acknowledgment to the very God, to whom they will bow someday! (Phil 2:10; Isaiah 45:23) It seems to me that God’s glory is all around us at this time of year!
Now, do all of these folks understand or even care about what they are singing? Well, some do and some don’t. But let’s look for the sunshine here….God’s glory is being sung! And I take particular delight in that!
This time of year is an exceptional opportunity to first, rejoice in the glory of the salvation Christ has brought to us and second, to tell other people what they are singing about, that the Lord Jesus Christ was born to die and rise again to bring us eternal life. (John 20:31)
So, “Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and every where that Jesus Christ is born!”
Listen... do you hear what I hear?
Merry Christmas!
