I trust that you have finished all of your Christmas shopping and are now resting in the glory of the birth of Jesus—no more commercialization, no more materialism, no more over-the-limit credit cards, no more fussing over what to buy, no more standing in long lines to pay, and no more sweating over who you might have forgotten! Shucks, I will go so far as to hope that you have already nailed down where you will spend Christmas day, and really are looking forward to it.
For some reason, I have been wondering of late why we get so discombobulated over Christmas; it is as if we somehow think our going to Heaven depends upon how much we enter into the fray! I cannot think of any other reason that would explain why we become so, well so discombobulated. I mean people are standing in line all night just to buy that absolutely necessary, cannot-get-along-without-it, end-of-the-world-will-come-if-I-don’t-get-it toy, even killing one another in order to get of all things a play station (whatever that is). Listen, common, ordinary people are stressed to the max in an effort to make all the office parties, and party-parties, and whatever-else-kind-of-parties they have had scheduled for them. I mean life is intense, to put it mildly! Surely, at least getting to Heaven is at stake!
Well, listen up because I do have some good news for you (part 3 of my series on the benefits and blessings of being a New Covenant participant): Striving to get to Heaven need no longer be a concern for you because God has chosen to give you a seat on the same return flight that Jesus took when He ascended back to Heaven, as is evidenced by this: But God being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:4-6; emphasis mine). In other words, you are already in Heaven and comfortably seated at God’s right hand in Jesus (notice the verb tenses), even better than a front-row seat!
Now, I know that many of you have been hoping just to make it into Heaven on a shoestring, and maybe, just maybe, not have to sit in the epistaxis (nosebleed) section; however, you can rest now. Stop! Get off the treadmill of performance! No longer be driven by guilt! It is now party time and Someone else has done ALL the work and you are already at the party—dressed in completely appropriate attire—and there is no “nosebleed section,” only “front and center seats.” Every invitee is seated at the feet of the Birthday Boy and you are one of them! The rush is over, so stop scurrying so! Get out of the long lines because everything needed (and then some) has already been purchased! Forget about your lists because everyone who is supposed to be invited is already at the party and they have been given the gift-of-all-gifts, one mere money cannot buy! Throw away your credit cards, even your checkbook, because all the bills have already been paid in full! LOOK! Can’t you see it? It is party time! Look at the myriad of balloons and that humongous birthday cake and that ocean-sized bowl of punch. LISTEN! I think I can hear the music and everyone beginning to sing, “Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday Dear Jesus, Happy Birthday to You!”
Wow! Do you realize how easy it would have been for you to have missed this, had He not chosen to give you a seat on the same “flight” that Jesus took when He ascended HOME? The truth is some of your would have missed it anyway (had I not reminded you of where you are) because you have been too busy trying to pull off what He has already accomplished!
There really does remain a Sabbath rest for the people of God and this is probably a very good time for you to cease from your labors and join the party. I dare you to join the ranks of the remnant, those who are more-than-satisfied to CELEBRATE JESUS!
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