One Christmas Closer to the Last
By Steve Bietz
Burke County
Since 1966, The Grinch has been trying to stop Christmas from showing up. And since 1966, we have heard the song describing this Green Creature. “You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch, You really are a heel. You’re as cuddly as a cactus, as charming as an eel, Mr. Grinch, You’re a bad banana with a greasy black peel!” Indeed Dr. Seuss could write the most peculiar poetry. Of course, as he himself would come to admit, the Grinch did not stop Christmas from showing up.
King Herod and the Devil tried to keep Christmas from coming – because the coming of He who is King of Kings is a frightful thought for both of them. But Christmas came anyway. Satan couldn’t stop God’s plans, which have been established from the foundation of the world. Satan could not stop Jesus from being born. He couldn’t stop Jesus from dying on the cross. He couldn’t stop Jesus from rising from the dead. He couldn’t stop Jesus from establishing His Church. He can’t stop Jesus from saving us and taking us home if we place our trust in our Lord and Redeemer.
This Christmas Day, as we celebrate Christ’s birth, we focus on why He came. And we also remember that another Christmas is coming. The Lord God is not finished coming just yet.
Despite what the naysayers say, Jesus is coming again. Despite what the doubters doubt, Jesus is coming again. Despite what the skeptics say, Christ will come again. As scripture tells us, “Behold, He is coming with the clouds and every eye will see Him.” (Rev.1:7, ESV)
Let us remember: Every Christmas is one Christmas closer to that last Christmas on this sinful planet. “And the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout and with the voices of angels and the trumpets of God.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16) If we think it was loud and glorious when the angels announced his birth to the shepherds, just wait until His second advent comes. For those who do not believe, the coming of Jesus will be frightful. But for those who trust in Christ, the Lord’s coming is delightful.
We say Come Lord Jesus! No, I cannot name the date of His second coming but we need to be found faithful. This Christmas Day, we celebrate the miracle of the Incarnation. We can join the shepherds who hurried to see the babe in the manger, glorifying and praising God. We worship with the wise men who knelt before the Christ Child. We rejoice in the Good News of grace for which Jesus came, died, and rose again. We live in hope, and we remember that this Christmas is just one more Christmas closer to that last Christmas on this sinful planet. With everything we’ve got, we sing,
COME LORD JESUS COME!
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Steve Bietz is the pastor at Morganton Seventh Day Adventist Church. You can read more good Christian news from Pastor Steve Bietz HERE.
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Blue Ridge Christian News covers Burke County, McDowell County, Mitchell County, Yancey County, Madison County, in North Carolina, and Christian news from around the country.
