It’s traditional Christmas Eve. On this night, children around the world will not be able to sleep because of the expectation, in the night, of the arrival of Santa Claus/Father Christmas/Kris Kringle/Papa Noel/Weihnachtsmann/ Ded Moroz/Babbo Natale/Papai Noel/Noel Baba/Saint Nicholas.
It is interesting how the myth of this somehow magical little man has taken on some of the characteristics of our Almighty God; “he sees you when you’re sleeping, he knows when you’re awake, he knows if you’ve been bad or good”, and he can deliver toys to all the children in the world in one night. It poorly mimics an All-Knowing, All-Powerful, Everywhere-Present-at-Once deity.
However, the traditional Christmas holiday is not about a fat little man in a red suit. No, this has been a day set aside to honor the birth of a special baby named, Jesus. We know that December 25th was not the actual date of His birth, but the date was chosen by religious leaders of the day to commemorate a date of honoring the King.
Many people around the world and particularly America perhaps, will recognize the day as the birth of a precious baby named Jesus. They may see the baby lying in a manger as a precious baby with a cute moving story. Many children will play a part in a reproduction of the birth of Jesus in their local churches. They will leave that performance and go home with little more than fun, laughter, and a bag of fruit and candy.
This baby in a manger is not simply a precious baby as we say, this child is Holy; the Holy Son of God! Some look and not see, or doubt . . . but when you truly see Him, you will never doubt!
“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14)
“Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, Who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11)
“For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” (Isaiah 9:6-7)
That God, in the Son, would leave all the glories of heaven and allow Him to be imprisoned for nine months within the womb of a virgin creature He created is beyond the limits of imagination. (The Incarnation)
God, in Jesus, was born in the little hamlet of Bethlehem, the City of David. All of Israel was warned, no, promised of His coming; the coming Messiah, the Savior of the world!
Remember the sleepless children on Christmas Eve awaiting a jolly old myth? They could not sleep because they believed in his coming. On the night of the birth of the Christ Child, all of Bethlehem was sleeping in unexpectancy; they slumbered while the birth of the majestic Messiah took place in their very midst. While they were sleeping as the prepared Star shown in their night sky, the King of Glory left His Throne to helplessly sleep in a manger. Even the shepherds were not awaiting His arrival in deep-rooted anticipation. O little town of Bethlehem . . . what has your sleepy eyes caused you to miss?
The Babe became a Man.
The Holy Scriptures spoke of this man Who would save the world from the judgment on their sin. Scriptures revealed His coming rejection and eventual crucifixion and, yet . . .
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him Who sent Me. 39 This is the will of the Father Who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 And this is the will of Him Who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:38-40)
The historic and mighty city of Jerusalem as a whole determined that there was no room for this King to be in their world. He came as the Messiah. He came to save, to redeem the very ones who did not want Him. They did not see Him because their souls were sleeping as He proclaimed to be the Way, the Truth and the Life!
O Jerusalem, wake up, the Savior of the world is hanging on your Cross just outside your historic, dead city.
“For this we say to you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” (I Thessalonians 4:15-17)
I am concerned America has mostly moved away from God. She no longer wants or needs what God demands and offers. Her now leaders speak of God when it is helpful for votes, they look at the Babe in the manger, but they do not see Him. They are reminded briefly once a year about a Cross and a resurrection, but they are blinded from the truth of it all. America has no room for the King of Glory. They are sleeping with dead souls. In their sleepiness, there will be a sudden shout heard round the world as Jesus, the Bridegroom, has returned to catch away His Church, His Bride, to be with Him in Glory.
Jesus will come again!
According to prophecy, immediately after the Rapture of the Church, a seven year Tribulation period will begin. This will be a time which will be filled with death and violence unbridled. The antichrist will be revealed. There will be extreme natural disasters. No one will be sleeping for the overwhelming fear that captures the heart and mind of those who were left behind. There is nothing man can do to prevent the Tribulation period from happening. It will happen, and no one wants to go through the hell on earth which is to come.
How can you avoid this?
You need to see the Christ Child lying in a manger for Who He is, and why He came. Wake up and take a closer look at what the shepherds saw and heard. My friend, do not miss the birth of your King Who will save you. Embrace the Child. Embrace the Man. Embrace the King of kings and LORD of lords. Look beyond the Baby! Be saved today.
Christian, you have been sleeping in the pew long enough. Come alive! Be revived! Pray On!
