Watching the Calendar

But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Mark 13:32

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

                                            2 Peter 3:10

Every single year around Christmas, I tell myself that I am not going to let myself get caught off guard with Christmas and all of the things I think I need to get done—determining and then shopping for the perfect gift, decorating the house, ordering gifts for out-of-town family members, searching charities for the right one to donate to, addressing and mailing Christmas cards—I tell myself that I will be better prepared for next Christmas. After all, the calendar is there in front of me—it’s not like it’s a surprise when December 25th is. And yet every year it happens—103-degree summer weather gives way to a modest 96-degree weather when Fall arrives and pumpkins fill our parking lot, and I tell myself that it’s time to plan for Christmas. I then blink and it’s Christmas Eve and I’m warming HEB’s Wintermarkt Gluhwein on the stove, a delicious sweet wine that I add mulling spices to and share with the family as we watch part of a Christmas movie on the television. In years past (when the kids were small) I’ve used the time after the movie to wrap presents and hide them away; now that they are grown, I can relax a bit with said wine and without guilt.

Year in, year out, the routine is pretty much the same, and I vow that the next year will be better (and it always does seem to be a smidge better. I’m not any more prepared than I was the previous year; perhaps it’s just that the pressure lessens each year?). Christmas is always on December 25th, and calendars and other means abound that will remind me of that fact.

With each Christmas, the body of Christ celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ—His first coming. We celebrate because we understand its meaning—Jesus, the Deity who stepped out of heaven and was borne into a meager life as a baby—as the Savior of us all, destined to die on a cross so that we may have eternal life. We rejoice in the thought of Emmanuel—God in flesh with us, the Word walking among us, showing us how to die to self and live with Him. We have opportunity to renew our wonder and commitment to Him each and every December 25th as we look to the potential of what each new year brings and how we can be used by Him. The calendar, right as rain, whether I’m prepared for it or not, brings the reminder of Christmas and all of its promise—His first coming.

What the calendar cannot bring is the notice of His second coming, however. And it is this fact that causes the us as believers to want to live our lives in certain ways, ways that reflect the goodness of Christ in a world darkened by sin and shame, so that those who don’t Him yet may come to know Him because of our witness. Friends, we do not have an idea as to how long we will be on this earth, but we simply must be prepared for the fact that He may come again while we are on here. No day is promised to anyone; we are merely the lucky recipients of each day as it comes. It is what we do with each day that is important. Are we sharing the love of Jesus with this world? Or are we overly focused on understanding what success in this world and lifetime means? Are we intentional in our church attendance, coming to worship the one true king, sacrificing Self in the process? Or do we consume what the church as to offer and look the other way when volunteers for ministries are sought? Would you do church or would you be the church?  

“Would you live your life differently if you knew that Jesus were coming back tomorrow?” asks the old cliché, wisely.  

Prayer Requests

·      For those struggling with job loss or changes—know that He has you, even if you cannot see beyond the perimeter of this 24-hour day

·      For those who are experiencing the first Christmas without their loved one being there due to sickness or death   

·      For victims of abuse and neglect—may they know His love and comfort

·      For our pastors and leadership

May we always be ready to witness, to share, and to account for our actions here on this world when we see Jesus face-to-face.

 Quotes

“It is better to look ahead and prepare, than to look back and regret.”    

“He is bigger than the scars and all the secret struggles. And He can make some remarkably beautiful things from all of your ashes.”