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A Christmas Story
For us Angels it’s silent in heaven now, but only for a while. The Messiah has been delivered to earth just as God had promised all those years ago. Silence now for just a night, after all the planning, after all the organising God had done with mankind; bringing from the nations a people for His purpose. He saved them from Egypt, from Pharaoh, from Philistines, from idols, from Babylonians and most impressive of all He saved them from themselves. Making them ready, ready to recognise the Saviour and then proclaim Him to the rest of the world.
After such a long time and such a hustle and bustle it’s so silent now; but only for a while. There’s such an empty space in heaven now He’s gone, only a palpable hollow void where once the Word was. The Word is the reason of God, the power of God, God spoke the Word and it was, it was light, it was life, it was creation and it was good. Land, sea, sky, worlds, swirling galaxies billions and billions of them everywhere! The Word is the light and glory of God and the very reason for all that there is!
As we look down now at the small bundle, the baby Christ Jesus, we shudder when we think of who He is. For all He was and is but who for now is made into weak vulnerable flesh. He’s so silent tonight but just for a while. Every hair on our heads stand on end when we think of what lies ahead for this small babe: The most important mission ever undertaken.
For just over 30 years He grew into a man an innocent man who didn’t fall into satan’s trap of which every other human being had fallen into from the beginning of time. No exception all of mankind fell one after the other. All that temptation! Yet, He’s so small. How will He cope? One fall, just one, and it’s all over, no back up, no plan B, no forgiveness and no hope for humanity. Ahead lies the whip, the hatred, the thorns, the spittle, the slaps, the beating, the fear, the betrayal, the cross and the abandonment. We know as we look down that one day this small babe will cry out like no one else ever has. So, let Him be silent now just for a while: To sleep and grow for He will fulfil His plan and save humanity forever.
For 2000 years now Heaven has been full again, Christ Jesus won the victory of victories. He was tempted more than we know but He never fell. He was the only innocent, yet for you and me, He kept on walking through a hell we cannot imagine. Now for us Christians here on earth peace is ours, life is ours, the past and the future are ours, the shadow of death is ours, for in truth we will only ever feel the smallest breath of death. Christ Jesus took the full blast of death’s deadly blow upon Himself. You and I will never know its full horror, only the smallest awareness of it. It is done, it is finished.
This Christmas as Christians let the silence of reflection remain on us; but only for a while. We have a God given task ahead a mission on this earth to fulfil. Just as Jesus was sent He now sends us into the same lost world of turmoil and pain. As He spoke so must we with the words of testimony He has given us. The task ahead is great the most important thing any of us will do. We may shudder at the thought of what lies ahead. So, be still now, be still now, let the peace and silence of this Christmas season be upon us. Let us remember His birth, His life, His death, His victory and our forgiveness. Be silent now. But just for a while.
Merry Christmas all.
Mike Hallows