““BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,” which translated means, “GOD WITH US.”” (Matthew 1:23, NASB95)
The scripture above from Matthew quotes Isaiah 7:14. Both scriptures testify of the coming of a special holy child, who shall be “God with us”, Immanuel. Both the Old and New Testaments of the Christian faith attest to the coming of a Messiah, a Christ child, a Savior. This Messiah would be God’s gift to humanity, a way God could be “with us”.
Few people take the time to think about what life would be like without Jesus, the Savior, the one Matthew called “God with us”. If Jesus had not come into the world, the world would be a different place indeed! Most of modern institutions of learning and hospitals were founded by people motivated by Jesus as Lord. Churches would not exist. December would be dark and dreary, not filled with lights and singing of Christmas carols and the joy of the season. Our court system would not be based on a Judeo-Christian model of right and wrong. Our country would not have been formed and developed by Pilgrims. This world was irrevocably and beautifully changed by the birth of Jesus Christ.
“A FEW years ago, a striking Christmas card was published, with the title, “If Christ had not come.” It was founded upon our Saviour’s words, “If I had not come.” The card represented a clergyman falling into a short sleep in his study on Christmas morning and dreaming of a world into which Jesus had never come.
In his dream he found himself looking through his home, but there were no little stockings in the chimney corner, no Christmas bells or wreaths of holly, and no Christ to comfort, gladden and save. He walked out on the public street, but there was no church with its spire pointing to Heaven. He came back and sat down in his library, but every book about the Saviour had disappeared.
A ring at the doorbell, and a messenger asked him to visit a poor dying mother. He hastened with the weeping child and as he reached the home he sat down and said, “I have something here that will comfort you.” He opened his Bible to look for a familiar promise, but it ended at Malachi, and there was no gospel and no promise of hope and salvation, and he could only bow his head and weep with her in bitter despair.
Two days afterward he stood beside her coffin and conducted the funeral service, but there was no message of consolation, no word of a glorious resurrection, no open Heaven, but only “dust to dust, ashes to ashes,” and one long eternal farewell. He realized at length that “He had not come,” and burst into tears and bitter weeping in his sorrowful dream.
Suddenly he woke with a start, and a great shout of joy and praise burst from his lips as he heard his choir singing in his church close by:
“O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold Him, born the King of Angels,
O come let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord.””
(Lettie Cowman, Streams in the Desert, pp. 370-371)
Now, while you may rejoice at the knowledge that Jesus did come into the world, do not forget that for some people in our world, there is no joy at Christmas. They still live as if Jesus never came into the world. They refuse to see the amazing grace offered by the Heavenly Father with the birth of the Christ child. These people are living in a world of darkness. Their future is bleak. They do not feel the warmth of the love of God. They do not celebrate “God with us” in December. They are still living in darkness. I hurt for them.
Due to depression, suffering, pain, a death in the family and more, there are others who are blinded to the joy in this season. The clouds of despair are blocking their view of the Christmas lights and joyful singing. Stress and pressures and financial distress have darkened the lives of many this year. Oh, how they need "God with us"!!!!!
In just a few days, we will be celebrating Christmas. There is so much good news to share! There is joy to bring to others. There is a peace that passes all understanding in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7)! You have time to share the good news of Jesus, to make peace, to bring tidings of great joy. Who might benefit from the love of Christ in you? How might you make Jesus present in the life of another?
Few people take the time to think about what life would be like without Jesus, the Savior, the one Matthew called “God with us”. If Jesus had not come into the world, the world would be a different place indeed! Most of modern institutions of learning and hospitals were founded by people motivated by Jesus as Lord. Churches would not exist. December would be dark and dreary, not filled with lights and singing of Christmas carols and the joy of the season. Our court system would not be based on a Judeo-Christian model of right and wrong. Our country would not have been formed and developed by Pilgrims. This world was irrevocably and beautifully changed by the birth of Jesus Christ.
“A FEW years ago, a striking Christmas card was published, with the title, “If Christ had not come.” It was founded upon our Saviour’s words, “If I had not come.” The card represented a clergyman falling into a short sleep in his study on Christmas morning and dreaming of a world into which Jesus had never come.
In his dream he found himself looking through his home, but there were no little stockings in the chimney corner, no Christmas bells or wreaths of holly, and no Christ to comfort, gladden and save. He walked out on the public street, but there was no church with its spire pointing to Heaven. He came back and sat down in his library, but every book about the Saviour had disappeared.
A ring at the doorbell, and a messenger asked him to visit a poor dying mother. He hastened with the weeping child and as he reached the home he sat down and said, “I have something here that will comfort you.” He opened his Bible to look for a familiar promise, but it ended at Malachi, and there was no gospel and no promise of hope and salvation, and he could only bow his head and weep with her in bitter despair.
Two days afterward he stood beside her coffin and conducted the funeral service, but there was no message of consolation, no word of a glorious resurrection, no open Heaven, but only “dust to dust, ashes to ashes,” and one long eternal farewell. He realized at length that “He had not come,” and burst into tears and bitter weeping in his sorrowful dream.
Suddenly he woke with a start, and a great shout of joy and praise burst from his lips as he heard his choir singing in his church close by:
“O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold Him, born the King of Angels,
O come let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord.””
(Lettie Cowman, Streams in the Desert, pp. 370-371)
Now, while you may rejoice at the knowledge that Jesus did come into the world, do not forget that for some people in our world, there is no joy at Christmas. They still live as if Jesus never came into the world. They refuse to see the amazing grace offered by the Heavenly Father with the birth of the Christ child. These people are living in a world of darkness. Their future is bleak. They do not feel the warmth of the love of God. They do not celebrate “God with us” in December. They are still living in darkness. I hurt for them.
Due to depression, suffering, pain, a death in the family and more, there are others who are blinded to the joy in this season. The clouds of despair are blocking their view of the Christmas lights and joyful singing. Stress and pressures and financial distress have darkened the lives of many this year. Oh, how they need "God with us"!!!!!
In just a few days, we will be celebrating Christmas. There is so much good news to share! There is joy to bring to others. There is a peace that passes all understanding in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7)! You have time to share the good news of Jesus, to make peace, to bring tidings of great joy. Who might benefit from the love of Christ in you? How might you make Jesus present in the life of another?