A Christmas Message

“Do not be afraid Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most high. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s decedents forever; his kingdom will never end”.  Luke 1:30-33 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 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. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manager.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly hosts praising God and saying; “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”  Luke 2:8-14

There is a song that I just learned from a pastor’s message I heard in Northern California. It’s an example of the times we live in now.  It’s about a little boy at a mall who notices a line of parents and kids to see Santa Claus. He turns to one of the parents there and asks in the sweet innocent voice only children possess, “Where’s the line to see Jesus”? The song goes like this:

Christmas time was approaching

Snow was starting to fall

Shoppers choosing their presents

People filling the mall

Children waiting for Santa

With excitement and glee

A Little boy tugged my sweater

Looked up and asked me,

[chorus:]

Wheres the line to see Jesus?

Is He here at the store?

If Christmas time is His birthday,

Why dont we see Him more?

Where’s the line to see Jesus?

He was born for me.

Santa Clause brought me presents,

But Christ gave His life for Me.

As I stood in amazement

At this message profound

I looked down to thank him

He was no where around.

A little boy at the mall

Might as well had had wings

As the tears filled my eyes

I thought I heard him sing:

[chorus:]

Where’s the line to see Jesus?

Is He here at the store?

If Christmas time is His birthday,

Why don’t we see Him more?

Where’s the line to see Jesus?

He was born for me.

Santa Clause brought me presents,

But Christ gave His life for me.\”

In the blink of an eye,

At the sound of His trump

Well all stand in line at His throne.

Every knee shall bow down.

Every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

[chorus:]

Wheres the line to see Jesus?

Is He here at the store?

If Christmas time is His birthday,

Why dont we see Him more?

Where’s the line to see Jesus?

He was born for me.

Santa Clause brought me presents,

But Christ gave His life for me.

Slowly over the years Christmas is becoming less about the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus and more about the secular. The tradition of Santa Claus, gift giving, parties, house light competitions, etc fill our every day lives this time of year. In the 1980s, in the work place Merry Christmas was replaced with Happy Holidays. Slowly Jesus is being pushed out of our culture. A culture that was originally founded by the early pilgrims long ago.

In Luke chapter 1 there is mentioned a man named Simeon who lived in Jerusalem who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the  the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. The Holy Spirit revealed to Simeon that he wouldn’t die until he saw the Lord Messiah and he did. He saw him in the temple courts and held him in his arms and praised him. Simeon waited in line for Jesus. He knew when he laid eyes on Jesus that he was the Lord and Savior of the world.

In what line are you standing. The line of the secular where sin is fun and accepted as normal. Where the pursuit of money and power take priority over everything else including family and faith. Where Jesus is pushed aside and anyone who believes is ridiculed and demonized. Or are you in the line waiting for Jesus. Standing tall in your faith. Taking the slings and arrows of insults from the secular world and wearing them as a badge of honor. Do you consider yourself not of this world (John 15:19) or does our Lord Jesus consider you a Citizen of Heaven (Philippians 3:20).

God Bless and Happy Birthday Jesus.

COH