Christmas is not a one-time in-a-year reminder of History, but an everyday joy for those who acknowledge God's revelation of His loving action in restoring the broken humanity of our world, by sending His only Son Jesus Christ, so that whosoever believes in Him will be saved.
In this age, Christmas is so commercialized that the truth of the celebration is missed regarding The King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Almighty God, the Creator of the universe coming to us in Jesus. Some deny it, some are still seeking it, and some seek every opportunity to mislead and confuse. In such a world as ours, it is important and precious that we know the truth, accept the truth, and experience the heavenly Joy of our Saviour Jesus: born 2,000 years ago; living amongst the people of the earth; even being fully God, he denied his heavenly glory, took the lowliest life, suffered, died the most crucial death on the cross, was buried, but rose again on the third day, ascended to heaven to live forever, and will return to this world to establish His Kingdom forever (Philippians 2:5-11). He is the living truth that brings true joy and meaning to our lives here on earth, encountering the living experience of the living God in our everyday life.
In Jesus, all the Old Testament prophesies have come true. The prophecy of Isaiah is one of them. Isaiah wrote this prophecy at least a hundred years before Israel was taken into Babylonian captivity - nearly 600 years before the birth of the Saviour! This is what he wrote, “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us, and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this” (Isaiah 9:6-7).
The Bible declares, 'But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship' (Galatians 4:4-5, NIV). We rejoice because of what God has done through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:11). We, therefore, can unceasingly celebrate the joy of heaven. We no longer need to search for any stars in the sky to search for this King of glory, or to travel so far to meet and worship Him. He is no more found in a lowly manger, neither must he suffer anymore and die on the cross. It has all happened once and for all and happened within God's own time. And now He is present right where we live. With only a simple prayer of faith, we can invite him into our life. You will experience his presence, the heavenly truth, and find that joy that is beyond imagination.
When we encounter Jesus, we witness God's ruling power in the world as well as in our lives. As God incarnate, Christ is the source of all truth. Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). No authority or king of this world can compare with this truth! It is He to whom we must turn and trust His loving rule of our lives, bearing witness to his authority and power over sin and evil. We gain confidence that Jesus will return to the world to establish his everlasting kingdom. He will rule the world and the Government will be on His shoulders.
In his earthly ministry, our Lord demonstrated His wisdom as a wonderful Counsellor. All four gospels focus on how wonderfully He helped those who approached him for help. His words had compassion and power. Even those who crucified Him on the cross had testified, "Never did a man speak the way this man speaks" (John 7:46). The way we respond to this truth, we demonstrate his comforting presence in our lives. I like the way John writes, 'We love because God first loved us. If we say we love God but hate our brothers and sisters, we are liars. For people cannot love God, whom they have not seen, if they do not love their brothers or sisters also' (1 John 4:19-20). When we encounter Jesus, we experience his love leading us into the truth, which our lives bear witness to those living around us.
We have the joy of God's presence in our lives, as we find shelter in Him, who is mighty in power. We find Him bigger than our problems, bigger than our fears, and bigger than any challenges that we may face. 'Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit (Romans 8:1-5).
When the Disciples were asking about God, the Father in Heaven, Jesus said, “I am in the Father and the Father is in me…And I will do whatever you ask for in my name, so that the Father's glory will be shown through the Son” (John 14:11,13,14, GNB). Acknowledging Jesus and receiving Him into our hearts brings the joy of heaven into our lives as we live in this world, giving us everlasting hope of life with God in heaven when our lives on earth come to an end.
In this world of chaos and confusion, caused by greediness for power and wasted ambitions, causing disturbance to the common life of people, people are in search of peace. In Jesus, God has given us the Prince of Peace.
In our Saviour's kingdom, there are no conflicts because He is the Prince of Peace. He offers peace from God (Romans 1:7) to all who receive His grace. He brings us into peace with God (Romans 5:1) for those who surrender to Him in faith. He brings the peace of God (Philippians 4:7) to those who walk with Him.
Real joy is beyond celebrating a religious festival. One can truly celebrate life believing and accepting Jesus who is God's chosen Messiah, the King of Kings, the Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and the Prince of Peace. He is the reason for real joy, which can be experienced by anyone who seeks Him.
God's purpose for us is that we may find true joy in life, experiencing heaven here on earth. Jesus taught us to pray for God's Kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven. This is possible when we ask this Prince of Peace to come into our lives.
Here is a wonderful, simple prayer to ask this King of Kings and Lord of Lords into your life:
Into my heart, Into my heart,
Come into my heart Lord Jesus,
Come in today, come to stay,
Come into my heart, Lord Jesus!
