That Most Joyous Time of Year Once Again Has Arrived
Crazy days this year has been, hasn’t it? And not as that popular song of yesteryear goes “…lazy, hazy, days of summer”, but all through 2020—the year that was; how do I share? Not fully understanding all I’ve been experiencing through these recent days and years; I’ll give it a try anyway in sharing. In that, this letter as well might be crazy.
We may be uncertain of the happenings of our days; change can be expected in our lifetime, not knowing what may come or when. But Jesus, “the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8), knows all the happenings (changes) that are to come about in our days—individually or corporately. (And the most important change comes individually through one’s repentance, and turning to Jesus as Savior and Lord, no longer following the “I did my way” mentality, but God’s way.)
Apart from the reality of Jesus being the real reason for this most glorious of holiday seasons, this Christ M A S season, having come through this year that was, is so much different than any other Christmases I have ever experienced, unlike any other year of my lifetime. In the past, Christmas had been simply a joyous once-a-year event—a shopping spree. Now it’s so much different; the real meaning much more evident.
With the coming of that pandemic (in some respects perhaps a panPANic), perhaps 2020 will go down in history as the year that was. But I pray may it not be forgotten, rather remembered as a reminder for us Christ-followers to go forward ever more so zealously than ever before, proclaiming the Good News throughout the year and every year until the day of Jesus’s return and He makes all things new (see Revelation 21:1-8.) Then maybe we’ll get the proper understanding of the truer meaning of that popular Christmas carol Joy to the World, which was originally written of Jesus’s second coming.
Wow, how to cope with it all. The pandemic had launched spiritual warfare within America, my mortal homeland. Never before have I been so concerned about a presidential and legislature election as I have been this year of 2020—as all of the Church should have been, concerned, as in every area of life, even with the governing of our nation as well all throughout our history.
I cannot see now how I can go on living the usual way I have lived before the events of 2020 had happened as if the pandemic had never happened. The end of time, nearer than ever before? It so is, with the passing of each new day— “Come, Lord Jesus.” Nevertheless, until then, when all gets straightened out and the new year begins, may it not be a return to the “normal” past, or even a “new normal,” as it has been in settling down after 911, and other of the wars and tragedies we have suffered—just continuing on with life as usual as if nothing had happened. May it not be, but to the greater purpose of our temporal existence. Apart from the works of God, since Genesis chapter three, this mortal world has been abnormal. Revive Your Church, Heavenly Father, through this land and around the world to a greater revival than what has ever been seen in history.
I’m sure glad there’s more to life than this mortal time. Crazy as it may sound, but my walking/driving about, my mind/heart now being more set on the immortal eternal reality, noticing the temporal works of humankind, that it’s all temporal, it’s all going to burn (see 2 Peter 3:3-7). And thus as well the realization of the familiar hymn comes true: “this world is not my home, I’m just a pass’n through.” (Consider John 14:1-3; Colossians 3:2-4.) The realization of the better forever world is coming clearer into focus.
James 4:13-16 (Amplified) reads, “…Come now [and pay attention to this], you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and carry on our business and make a profit.” 14 Yet you do not know [the least thing] about what may happen in your life tomorrow. [What is secure in your life?] You are merely a vapor [like a puff of smoke or a wisp of steam from a cooking pot] that is visible for a little while and then vanishes [into thin air]. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and we will do this or that.” 16 But as it is, you boast [vainly] in your pretension and arrogance. All such boasting is evil.”
Restore America, heavenly Father, as we were founded—upon biblical principles—that we for a time may be a light-bearer and salt-spreader to the world of Your grace, peace, and love, until the day of Your return, Lord Jesus (Adonai Yeshua).
The year that was—2020. It’s so refreshing and with a new sense, of hearing those Christmas carols this year, reminding me of my truer purpose for living in this time—Jesus (Yeshua), the Christ, Messiah, Adonai, our Salvation and soon coming King. “Come, Lord Jesus.”
Blessings and shalom,
Charles
A Christmas movie worthy of your viewing you may want to consider seeing (about 1 hr. 40 min.) if you have not seen it. Or consider viewing it again or again and again if you have seen it:
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