Welcome to Tuesday the 18th of December and according to some.....3 days until the end of the world.....
Let's get the perspective straight now....The world is not ending in 3 days. The Bible says that no one knows, not even the angels that do God's bidding, when the end will come. The Mayan calendar has been debunked and we can have a calm assurance that Saturday December 22, 2012 will more than likely happen. If you happen to not be convinced yet, here is an article that can bolster your confidence:
The Mayan Apocolypse Dr. James Emery White
Besides, R.E.M. has been saying it's the end of the world since 1987. Let's take a look:
R.E.M. "It's The End Of The World As We Know It"
In 1987, many thought the world would indeed end as the stock market lost over 22% of its value. Margaret Thatcher was elected prime minister of the UK for the third time and gasoline was 89 cents in that same year. (We thought gas was high at that price....can you say economic conditioning....sure you can.....) In 1987, the Ford Mustang looked like this:
Finally, in 1987 a band from Athens, Georgia hit the charts with their alternative, apocalyptic tome about.....well, The Notes confesses to not really knowing what this song is about. Reminiscent of Bob Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues" and a forerunner to Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start The Fire", R.E.M. took their politically and ecologically edgy lyrics and set them to their standard alt defining sound. "It's The End Of The World As We Know It" charted at only #69 when it was released in November of '87 and would be listed as one of the songs that Clear Channel would not allowed played in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Its haunting chorus comes to mind any time an apocalypse is predicted or predicated on television or in the movies. In November of 2011, the end of the world came to R.E.M. as the band permanently disbanded.
We are one week away from Christmas Day. Hopefully, you are close to completing the plans for your celebrations. As your planning may continue through the week, take the time and reflect. Recent tragedies remind us that our lives are limited. But there is hope in a manger. There is a light that shines brighter than all of the darkness that may rule this earth.
Christians around the world will unite next Tuesday and celebrate the coming of our Savior, Jesus. In the book of Matthew, a carpenter is told that he will be the earthly care giver of the Son of God. While a familiar story, Joseph's account of Jesus birth is sometimes overshadowed by that of Mary. We do not know much about Joseph after Jesus is 12, but from this passage of Matthew, we can see that Joseph was obedient. From The Message paraphrase:
18-19 The birth of Jesus took place like this. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. Before they came to the marriage bed, Joseph discovered she was pregnant. (It was by the Holy Spirit, but he didn’t know that.) Joseph, chagrined but noble, determined to take care of things quietly so Mary would not be disgraced.
20-23 While he was trying to figure a way out, he had a dream. God’s angel spoke in the dream: “Joseph, son of David, don’t hesitate to get married. Mary’s pregnancy is Spirit-conceived. God’s Holy Spirit has made her pregnant. She will bring a son to birth, and when she does, you, Joseph, will name him Jesus—‘God saves’—because he will save his people from their sins.” This would bring the prophet’s embryonic sermon to full term:
Watch for this—a virgin will get pregnant and bear a son;
They will name him Immanuel (Hebrew for “God is with us”).
24-25 Then
Joseph woke up. He did exactly what God’s angel commanded in the dream:
He married Mary. But he did not consummate the marriage until she had
the baby. He named the baby Jesus.They will name him Immanuel (Hebrew for “God is with us”).
Notice the interpreted names of Mary's child, Jesus, "God Saves" and Immanuel "God is with us". The very name of Jesus is meant for us to draw assurance and hope. Immanuel is the name that provides the strength to endure. Both are names that connote the intense love that God has for us and the extreme desire for relationship that God wants with us. They are the names above all names and they are worthy of the adoration and praise that we give as we celebrate Jesus' birth. They are names that remind us of His ultimate earthly destiny on the cross and His conclusive victory over death as He is now risen indeed! They are names that also emphasize the promise of His return where the victory over the evil one will be complete and those who have believed on His name will live with Him forever.
So, as we gather around Christmas trees with friends and family, as we sing songs about a jolly ol' elf, as we exchange gifts with those around us, let us take many moments to tell the story of the One who was born to those who don't know! Let us elaborate on the One who is risen indeed!! Let us look forward to the return of the One who has saved us!!! Let us rejoice that as either He returns or our lives come to a close, we will be able to shout....."It's the end of the world as we know it......and I feel fine"!!!!
'Til Tuesday
Loving HIM by loving you,
Randy
No comments:
Post a Comment