IT WILL BE DIFFERENT

The predawn hours of Christmas…all is calm; all is quiet before the chaos of grandkids tearing open beautifully wrapped gifts, mom and dad directing picture taking and grandma overseeing cleanup.  Lying in bed, my mind drifts to past Christmas mornings, when 2 excited little boys ran down the stairs to the brightly lit tree, surrounded by presents, their faces aglow with anticipation…BUT it’s different now… the boys are the dads and the glowing faces are grandkids…Grandma sits by enjoying the drama of Christmas with the grandbabies in key roles and the parents, the directors…YES, it’s different now.

EVERYTHING CHANGES…but does it really?  The strains of an old song run through my mind as I consider that Christmas long ago…

♪♪ “It’ll be different the next time you come, wait and see.

You’ve got a lot of lonely children and one of them is me.

You know we want to see you; we’re never really at home

So if you’re waiting to be invited, Lord Jesus please come.” ♪♪

“But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son…”

It was the RIGHT TIME, Galatians 4:4 declares on that day; that year, the “FULLNESS OF TIME” occurred. 

It may have been an INCONVENIENT TIME according to Mary and Joseph, they had plans and a “premature” baby just didn’t fit…but God sent Gabriel to announce the news because it was the “FULLNESS OF TIME.” 

It wasn’t the RIGHT TIME to the Innkeeper…How do you tell an VERY PREGNANT woman, she has to spend the night in the barn because you do not have any space, let alone an empty bed to offer…but the LAMB OF GOD would be born in a stable and laid in a manger because it was the “FULLNESS OF TIME.”

It was the WORST OF TIMES for King Herod, who suddenly felt threatened by a small child; a small child that Wise Men from the East were seeking and calling King of the Jews. Herod was the King of the Jews and no one, especially some baby born to a peasant mother and carpenter father from Bethlehem would ever be allowed to come close to overthrowing his throne…but God said it was the “FULLNESS OF TIME.”

Yes, it would seem that it was not the RIGHT TIME according to “man’s standards.” Jesus was not welcomed into a safe, embracing world.  The world, to which He was born, was engulfed in political chaos, burdened by high taxes, ruled by an insecure despot and threatened by unknown dangers.  BUT IT WILL BE DIFFERENT THE NEXT TIME YOU COME, WAIT AND SEE…

SO, WOULD IT BE THE RIGHT TIME IF JESUS WERE BORN TODAY?

Would we find His appearance just a bit INCONVENIENT; a disruption to our important plans for the next year?  Could we find a little space in our cluttered, chaotic life to allow Him to “birth” something of monumental spiritual importance in us?  Does His “Call to Service” threaten our little kingdom; would we be willing to step down from our throne to give Jesus His rightful place? 

WHAT IF GOD DECLARED IT TO BE THE “FULLNESS OF TIME” AND GABRIEL WAS SENT TO ANNOUNCE HIS ARRIVAL?

Jesus would find that the world ISN’T SO DIFFERENT this “next time” either.  He would find a world engulfed in political chaos, burdened by high taxes, ruled by insecure despots and threatened by unknown dangers…BUT WAIT….

THERE IS ONE BIG DIFFERENCE…

There is a PEOPLE; a LOT OF LONELY CHILDREN; a CHURCH THAT IS CALLED BY HIS NAME waiting and longing to welcome His return.  They’ve been living in a “strange land,” preparing themselves to answer the call, spreading the news and excited about a home, He is preparing, just for them.  They have a PROMISE; they have a HOPE and some day…

IT WILL BE DIFFERENT!

Are you one of His lonely children, just waiting for Jesus?  I am and you can be too...

IT CAN BE DIFFERENT THIS TIME!!!