One phrase makes several appearances in the Christmas story - “Fear not!” Whenever one of God’s messengers shows up with news, they say, “Don’t be afraid!” God is speaking to us today and HE tells us not to fear. Some Christians are acting in very strange ways these days because of fear. Conspiracy theories abound. Irrational statements are made as if they were revealed dogma. Why? In part I believe it is because we tend to forget the end of the Story! Ah friend, we need to remember He reigns. (I played the Hallelujah Chorus during my morning worship and found myself overwhelmed with joy, moved to tears!)
Spoiler alert! You see this warning in a review of a movie when there is about to be a revelation of a critical turn in the plot. If you don’t want to ruin the story for yourself, you stop reading, right? My destiny, because of Christ Jesus, is no mystery. God told us the end of the story. We know the assurance of eternal life. We live confidently knowing that evil will be defeated. Our hope is secure in the house of our Father, a home in Heaven. He reveals the End in His Book. I am so glad He did! Why? Because sometimes, in the middle of this thing we call life, everything can get really overwhelming. Whether we are talking about world problems – and there are plenty of those- or our personal struggles, we are encouraged to remain faithful to Him because we have divine assurance. Jesus said - “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, NIV)
Have you read the final lines of Romans chapter 8 recently? It’s a sort of spoiler alert for our lives, but in the best sense. Because we are called and justified in Christ, "we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. …After God made that decision of what his children should be like, he followed it up by calling people by name. After he called them by name, he set them on a solid basis with himself. And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what he had begun. So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? … Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. … None of this (death, demons, etc.) fazes us because Jesus loves us." (Romans 8:37, The Message)
My heart has been full of concern this Advent season for the people in my pastoral care. There are broken hearts. Some struggle with unrelenting pain. Some face a financial need. COVID has made depression as common as a cold as some many try to make sense of what seems senseless, and more. I pray with hope because I have the promise that the "Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express." (Romans 8:26, NIV) I pray with faith in the promise that He has made us ‘more than conquerors’ through Christ Who loves us. I know the end of the story, because I have read Word of the Eternal One .
Fearful? God is saying, “Fear not.” In a sense HE tells us, “I’ve got this. Let me guide you through.”
Here is a word from the Word. It is from the End of the Bible, a kind of last word. May this Truth overcome our fear, fill us with faith, and give us vision to live for the Glory of God, now and forever.
"And the angel showed me a pure river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb, coursing down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations. No longer will anything be cursed. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever." (Revelation 22:1-5, NLT)
Jesus says, “See, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me, to repay all according to their deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” (Revelation 22:12-13, NLT)
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Hallelujah (10X)
For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth
Hallelujah hallelujah
Hallelujah hallelujah
For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth
Hallelujah hallelujah
Hallelujah hallelujah
The kingdom of this world is become
The kingdom of our Lord
And of His Christ
And of His Christ
And He shall reign forever and ever
And He shall reign forever and ever
And He shall reign forever and ever
King of kings forever and ever
And Lord of lords
Hallelujah hallelujah
Hallelujah hallelujah
Hallelujah
George Frideric Handel
Public Domain
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