Christmas Is A Promise

For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.  Colossians 1:13-18 NASB

Christmas is a promise, the Saviour has come and with Him peace on earth. Yes, there is peace in our hearts, but we long for peace in our world. And each passing Christmas is a “turning of the page” until Jesus returns. Every December 25th marks another year that draws us closer to the fulfillment of the ages, that draws us closer to … our eternal home.

The history of Christmas doesn’t begin with Jesus lying in a manger or pause with His hanging on a cross. Nor does the story end with the resurrected Saviour ascending into heaven. There is still one more chapter to come. A chapter where Jesus Christ isn’t painted as a humble babe in a manger or a bloodied king on the cross. No, the final chapter paints Jesus Christ as warrior King poised to conquer His kingdom’s enemies.

Revelation 19:11-16 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND Lord OF LORDS.”

The Lord Jesus Christ is mighty, holy and all powerful. There are times of intimacy in which we call on Him as our Heavenly Father, as the One who relentlessly loves and forgives us. There are times when we allow our hearts to rejoice in the glory of knowing Jesus intimately as our Savior and Shepherd. But we must also practice the discipline of worshipping Jesus as King, the Warrior King. He is the One we serve and lift up on high. We are not His equals, for He is God!

You guys! take courage in the knowledge that our Saviour, Jesus Christ, continues to work, even today, even in the midst of the most atrocious and unimaginable human acts. He works even in the midst of our own sinful ways. As we join Jesus in the war against satan and its enemy forces, we are not powerless, even when it seems that evil continues to prevail. Remember. We serve Jesus, the Warrior King, and He will never cease to defend the orphan, the widow, the poor, the rejected. He will stand for Truth, and we must join Him in that stand. We do not offend others because we are brash, insensitive, or unloving. But we will stand by the Gospel of Jesus. 

Jesus is relevant to the world not just because of His loving sacrifice on the cross that brings freedom from sin, but because He came to reveal Himself as the Way that must be followed. Jesus is the conquerer of sin and death, and through His birth, life, death, burial, and resurrection, God is reaching out His strong hand to those who will grasp it and receive a place at the king’s table.