No Christmas?

 

And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. John 10:22,23

This year, the Feast of Dedication, Hanukkah begins on December 25. What does the Feast of Dedication have to do with Christmas? Could it be that we wouldn't have Christmas if there had not been a Hanukkah? 

I'm certainly not an authority on Hanukkah, but I think I have a grasp on the gist of the story. Really everything in Jewish history has an effect on Christmas. If Adam and Eve had not sinned in the garden there would have been no need for Christmas or Calvary. It all started in the Beginning. God told Eve that it would be her seed that would bruise Satan's head and that Satan would bruise His heel.

All through history, Satan has tried to destroy God's people so Christmas would never come. Think about Abraham and Isaac. Imagine an old man over 100 years old, tying up a teenager to offer the teen as a burnt sacrifice. Isaac could have easily broken away and run like crazy. But no, Isaac was obedient to his father, even as Jesus was obedient to His Father, even unto death. God spared Isaac's life because he couldn't die for our sins. But the Father did not spare His only Son. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Without God's love, there would be no Christmas. 

Think about Esther. God put her through tragic events to make her the queen who would save her people. If Haman had won, the Jews would have been destroyed. There would have been no special people to receive God's Son. There would be no Christmas.

Think about Hanukkah. The Greeks had come in to change the culture of the Hebrews to the Greek culture, language, and religion. A pig was sacrificed on the temple altar. The brave family of the Maccabees fought for Israel and the temple. They cleansed the temple but there was only enough oil to light the lamp for one night. It would take a week to make more oil. They demonstrated their faith and love by reclaiming the temple and lighting the lamp. God demonstrated His love and power by keeping the lamp burning for eight days while the oil was being made.
What would have happened if the Maccabees had not reclaimed the temple? The religion of the true God would have been destroyed. There would have been no Christmas.

Think about King Herod's attempt to kill the baby Jesus by killing all the children under two years old. If Joseph had not listened to God and taken Jesus to Egypt, there would have been no Calvary, no sacrifice for our sins. There would be no salvation. 

Even to this day, Satan attempts to end Christianity. Satan knows his time is short. No matter what we see on the news, be reassured, God is not dead nor doth He sleep. He is in control. God wins. There is forgiveness and salvation because there is Christmas. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for overthrowing every plan of Satan from the beginning. Thank you for placing each person, Abraham, Isaac, Esther, the Maccabees, and Joseph, and others in the right place at the right time. Father, we know you have placed each of us here for such a time as this. May we be like those who were obedient to you even in the face of death. In Jesus's name. Amen. 

Hey Kids:

Christmas brings out the carols, some old favorites, some new but all to remind us of the birth of our Savior. We often sing without thinking too deeply about the words. If we read and listen more closely we may be surprised at the meaning and prophesy found in our songs. 

From now until Christmas read the carols.

Examine them as devotions

Search for the meaning the author was trying to convey. 

Here's a few to get you started. 

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

Hark, the Herald Angels Sing

Silent Night

O Little Town of Bethlehem

Back to the Future

 

But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.

Numbers 14:21

"Grandma, do you think we'll ever have time travel? I'd like to go back to the Civil War just to see what life was like." 

"Well, everything we touched would affect and change the future. I'm not sure that's a good idea but I've always wanted to be an interpreter at a national park."

This was the beginning of a conversation with my teenage grandson on the way back from the gym. Our family loves history. We've lived in Spartanburg county since before the Revolutionary War. We are surrounded by family history and when we vacation we visit historic sites. Our conversation ended by concluding that God placed us here in this time and place for a specific reason — "for such a time as this" (Esther 4:14). So does our lives affect the future? 

In Numbers 13 the Lord had Moses send twelve men into the land of Canaan to spy out the land. Ten of the men brought back a bad report — bad news. They wouldn't be able to take the good land because there were walled cities and giants. Only Joshua and Caleb were ready to go into the land and take it believing God's promise. The people chose to follow the ten spies who gave the bad report because those spies were the majority. Their choice affected their future. God was ready to destroy the people and start over but Moses' talk with God affected the future.

God agreed to let the people live but those over twenty years old would die without seeing the promised land. They would wander in the wilderness until the younger generation grew up and the faithless died off except Joshua and Caleb. For forty years God allowed them to wander in the wilderness waiting to die off. No hope for their future because they had no vision. We live in a troubling time. Our thoughts and actions affect the future. God sent revivals in the past. The Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th Centuries were victorious times for God's people. Then several things happened to affect the future of God's people. 

Do you think God could send revival again? Do you think He will? Our thoughts and attitudes toward God's purposes affect our future. God's purpose in leading the Israelites into the promised land was to bring the gospel to the whole world. They were to be the people used by God to bring the Messiah. Their fear and disobedience delayed God's plan. How is our obedience or lack thereof affecting God's plan for our future? 

Take the time to look back at the preaching of the Great Awakenings. Google search should bring up the preachers and their doctrines without too much trouble. Look back at Christmas carols like "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear". 

4. And ye, beneath life's crushing load,

Whose forms are bending low,

Who toil along the climbing way

With painful steps and slow,

Look now! for glad and golden hours

Come swiftly on the wing; –

Oh, rest beside the weary road

And hear the angels sing!

5. For lo! the days are hastening on

By prophet bards foretold,

When, with the ever circling years

Shall come the age of gold;

When Peace shall over all the earth,

Its ancient splendors fling,

And the whole world give back the song,

Which now the angels sing.

Edmund H. Sears  published in the Broadman Hymnal

Think about how people thought about the future. What was their vision? Life wasn't easy but they had a hope. 

We can't and shouldn't go back to the past, but we do need God's vision for the future — that all the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord.

Heavenly Father, please give us a vision for the future and help us that our lives will be purposeful in bringing about your kingdom. In Jesus's name, Amen. 

Hey Kids:

When I was growing up we had GAs for the girls and RAs for the boys; Girls Auxiliary and Royal Ambassadors. Each group had a particular song. I don't know what the RAs song was but I do know the girls sang We've a Story to Tell to the Nations.

This week google the words to this song if you don't have a hymn book available. 

What vision were the church leaders trying to instill in the young people?

How can you begin to influence the future with the vision of God's plan for the world?