REALIZATION
Was it in the moment when Mary first heard the news?
Or when angels announced the birth of the long-awaited King of the Jews?
Imagine their exceeding great joy when they saw at last
The fulfillment of prophecy from long ages past.
And our hearts can all be filled with joy, still today,
In realizing God's greatest gift of salvation and grace.
~ Darlene Koop, Dec. 31-2012 ~
...and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary, His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. ~ Matthew 2:9b-11a ~
And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant...For He who is mighty has done great things for me and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation." ~ Luke 1:46-48a, 49-50 ~
I am happy and I have joy in my heart.
For some people, those two words -- happiness and joy -- are synonymous, but there is a difference between them. And many people say that they want to be happy, when the real and deepest desire of their hearts is to find a true joy that lasts.
Friends, the message of the Christmas season brings us that joy that our world is searching for -- but it is not always realized or recognized because of the way in which God revealed it.
People look for happiness and joy in things they can see and touch, but those things will always disappoint. Happiness can be found in circumstances, but is usually temporary --
joy comes from knowing a truth that will not change, no matter what happens in our lives or the world around us.
So what is the joy that we celebrate at Christmas? Certainly, the birth of Jesus Christ. But if we stop there, we miss what Christmas is really all about.
The miraculous thing about true joy is that it continually increases and satisfies our hearts in a way nothing else can.
The exceeding great joy that the wise men felt as they saw and worshiped the King of Kings that first Christmas was because they realized WHO HE WAS and WHY HE HAD COME.
And we, too, can experience that joy in ever-increasing measure, because of what happened after that wonderful, holy night just over 2000 years ago. I don't know if the people who were living on the earth at that time fully comprehended the reason for Christ's birth...that may be what Jesus meant when He said to Thomas,
"Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29).
This world is not all there is --
and though this is where life begins, it does not end here. Jesus Christ is coming again, and for we who have believed although we have never seen Him, there are no words to describe the joy that we will know on that day.
The Savior of the world came - into the dark, smelly shadows of a stable on a night that was perhaps cold and dreary -
and His first advent brought a joy and hope that people had never known. But the plan was not complete with His birth, or even His death and resurrection...for behold,
He is coming again!! And His second advent will be even greater than the first -- for
"every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:10-11).
Then will we realize in fullness who He really is...and so until that day,
let us continually find our joy in the only One who can satisfy our hearts -- Jesus Christ, our Savior, Lord, and King!
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith...may be found to praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and glory, receiving the end of your faith - the salvation of your souls. ~ 1 Peter 1:6-7a, 8-9 ~
