An Early Christmas

I have done my share of grumbling about the way Christmas shopping seems to begin earlier every year. But, to be honest, in my own way I’m much worse than the advertisements and stores. I vote for an early Christmas. A very early Christmas.

Isaiah

Isaiah would understand what I mean. He was a prophet seven centuries before the birth of our Lord. Isaiah watched his nation go through good times and bad, and with it all, he envisioned an utterly better day. “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light” (Isaiah 9:2).

And what is this great light? “For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

Isaiah’s vision was of a government with a high God-content, with results that will go far beyond our usual political platforms. Isaiah was reaching into matters of heart and thought.

Micah

Micah was a prophet at roughly the same time as Isaiah. We remember him for the words he spoke and wrote. Especially one verse that still thrills us more than twenty-five centuries later: “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for Me One who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days” (Micah 5:2).

The little town of Bethlehem was uniquely significant to the Jewish people because their most revered king, David, had come from there. But now Micah was promising something far beyond David.

Job

Job didn’t celebrate Christmas, but he wanted its benefit, and he wanted it desperately. He lived in the land of Uz, and “was the greatest of all the people of the east” (Job 1:3). Job’s greatness was not simply a matter of wealth and community standing. He was a truly fine human being, someone of whom God could say, “there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man” (Job 1:8).

Job seemed to live a charmed life. But suddenly it all changed. In a devastating series of events, Job lost his considerable fortune, his seven sons and three daughters, and his health. It seemed so hopeless to Job that he saw God as his enemy. Then Job turns to his friends, hoping they will understand his predicament with God, since they too are human: “For He is not a man, as I am, that I might answer Him, that we should come to trial together. There is no arbiter between us, who might lay his hand on us both” (Job 9:32,33).

In truth, Job’s request is a pretty hopeless one. He wants a very special kind of mediator, someone with enough standing to lay a hand on God, and enough understanding of our human condition to lay a hand on Job. Job was appealing for Christmas, the event that gives us the only One able to lay a hand on God because He is God, and understanding of humanity because He is human.

What About You?

Are you ready for an early Christmas? Do you feel the need of One who will bring light to your dark world? One who has the authority to forgive your sins and the power to make you a new person?

Maybe, like Job, your life has taken a turn you didn’t see coming. Perhaps you have lost the possessions, abilities, or relationships that meant the most to you. Let me assure you of one thing: God has not abandoned you! He loves you so much that He sent His only Son to die for you, and earnestly desires you to come to Him: “God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

There is nothing we can do in our own efforts to make ourselves clean in God’s sight. Jesus has paid the price we could never pay. All we need to do—all we can do—is turn to Him and trust what He has done. Won’t you turn to Jesus Christ today? Then, no matter what time of year it is, you will receive the true Gift of Christmas!

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.… For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved’” (Romans 10:9-10,13).

—Adapted from Christmas from the Back Side by J. Ellsworth Kalas. Copyright © Abingdon Press.