ADVENT: "Reclaiming Christmas" -- Day 25

Advent:  Day 25:  “Christmas Eve:  Excitement . . . Anticipation . . . Joy!”

Scripture:  Revelation 21:1-7 – Focus verse:  “And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of GOD is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and GOD Himself will be among them” (Revelation 21:3).

It is appropriate that we end our Advent devotionals on this last day of Advent with this passage of scripture.  This is the ultimate purpose for the Christmas story.  GOD created us because He desires to have fellowship with us . . . He desires that we glorify His name because we find no greater joy than the love and fellowship He offers. 

JESUS paid the ultimate price so that we might enter into the “new heaven and the new earth . . . the Holy City of GOD” (vv. 1-2)!  And there we will experience the consummation of the wedding vows between GOD & His Bride (those of us in Christ) and we will be “made ready as a bride adorned for her husband” (v. 2).  I love this imagery!

This is the meaning of Christmas . . . GOD’s Christmas gifts to those who believe:

·        “Behold, the tabernacle of GOD is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and GOD Himself will be among them” (v.3).

·        “And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (v. 4).

·        “There will no longer be any death” (v. 4).

·        “There will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain” (v. 4).

·        “He is making all things new” (v. 5).

·        “It is done” (v. 6)!

·        “He will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost” (v. 6).

·        “He who overcomes will inherit these things” (v. 7).

·        “I will be his GOD and he will be my Son” (v. 7).

How can you not but weep . . . shout . . . dance . . . laugh uncontrollably . . . worship wildly (there will not be any worship in His presence that lulls one to sleep)! 

We miss Christmas because we have not grasped the depth of the darkness of our total depravity!  We miss Christmas because we do not comprehend the truth that GOD, the Creator of the heavens and the universe, has “tabernacled” among us . . . He is present in all His glory . . . and He has made all things new in our lives!  Christmas is GOD’s redemptive plan being initiated on earth so that He will become our GOD and we will become His son (children).

MERRY CHRISTMAS – Oh, may we celebrate it with wild abandon as never before!