Author: Carol Purves

The Eve of Christmas Eve

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Tomorrow Advent turns into Christmas; which is the eve of the eve of Jesus coming to earth. It had long been foretold, the prophets were expecting it but the people were not ready. It was the season when God broke into time from His timeless world. In many countries children will put up their stocking and the bells will ring.

As Christians we can be ready, the importance of our festivities can fade into the background and the wonder of Christmas itself burst into our souls. As the years go by some are ready, some are not. It will be the same with the second coming of God to earth. Some will be ready and waiting, some will not be ready until it is too late.

When we see the troubles and wars round the world, we can long for the day when Jesus will return. But no-one knows when that will be, soon or far into the distance. What we know is we have today, let us not waste that. Every day we have is a gift from God. It is a day for living, not only for waiting. I believe that expectant waiting should be an action-filled time.

Wise Men

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When it comes to the writers of carols, I think the wise men have a poor deal. I know chronologically they came after the birth, manger and shepherds, maybe even a few years afterwards, but even so they are important. The only ‘kings’ carol we sing regularly at this season is ‘We three kings of Orient are, bearing gifts we travel afar. (my childlike mind used to wonder what ‘orion tar’ was! A special kind of tar perhaps!). Being a lover of alliteration I love the first verse ‘field and fountain, moor and mountain.’ The wise men certainly travelled a long way.

Three verses deal with the three gifts – ‘gold I bring to crown Him again.’ And ‘King for ever.’ Then frankincense ‘God on earth yet Priest on high.’ And finally myrrh. ‘Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, sealed in a stone-cold tomb.’

The centre of the carol seems to be the star. ‘O star of wonder, star of light.’ But of all the written words connected with the kings the most memorable are Christiana Rossetti’s.

‘What can I give Him, poor as I am,

If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb;

If I were a wise man, I would do my part;

Yet what I can I give Him, give my heart.’

Shepherds

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‘While shepherds watch their flocks by night.’ by Nathum Tate. This is the first line of another one of our much loved carols. The Son of God came to this world and was welcomed by shepherds. This gives me hope. I don’t mix with royalty, I am not known by important people. I don’t move in distinguished circles. I’m just a run of-the-mill person and so were the shepherds. These blessed shepherds, called by angels were the first to see Jesus. Although they were stunned by the whole thing, they can’t have guessed at the great significance of what was happening.

‘Fear not,’ the angel said – for mighty dread had seized their troubled minds’, no wonder the shepherds had troubled minds, seeing angels talking to them in the middle of their night shift. But the message was the same as was told so many times in the nativity story ‘Fear not.’ The whole story has many people frightened out of their lives as they are comforted by angels. The list includes Mary, Joseph and now the shepherds. Their message was clear go and find the baby who you will find in a manger bed. There can’t have been be many mangers with babies in them in Bethlehem on the night!

Bethlehem

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When I visited Bethlehem a few years ago, the protective wall round the city was being constructed. On entering the city our coach was stopped and examined. The same thing happened when we left. At one stage the car I was travelling in, driven by a known Christian driver, was pelted with stones. The town itself was full of cheap knick-knacks. The supposed place where Jesus was born had become a tourist attraction.

My visit saddened me. The Saviour of the World did not seem to be present. ‘On little town of Bethlehem, how still we see you lie.’ Not when I was there. There was the sound of distant gun-fire. Prophetic, I suppose.

But still ‘the silent stars go by,’ and the message is still ‘peace on earth.’ Still ‘praises sing to God our King.’ and ‘peace to men on earth,’ if they will listen. The state of the world does not change the message. The God of Peace wants to give us peace., ‘where meek souls will receive Him.’ It is up to each one of to say and sing ‘O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Immanuel.’

O Come All Ye Faithful

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This lovely Christmas Carol, thought to be have been written by John Francis Wade, is sometimes referred to by it’s Latin title – Adeste Fideles, though I imagine few of us could recite the rest of the carol in Latin. It is often sung at the beginning of Advent as it is an invitation to come, come and worship the King.

It is the faithful who are invited, those who believe in the uniqueness of His birth.(though I believe there is a version which says, ‘Come, all you unfaithful,’ for all are invited) We are invited to join in with the citizens of heaven above, those who have reached their destination and are waiting for us to join them. Yes, we mostly have to adjust the final verse from – ‘Born that happy morning’ unless we are singing on Christmas Day.

‘God of God, Light of Light, begotten, not created.’ God was never created, He just was, is and will be. In this carol every verse concludes with the words ‘O come, let us adore, Him, Christ the Lord.’ An invitation for us to worships once again. May the wonder of this time never fade from our minds or become ordinary. ‘Come and behold Him, born the King of Angels.’ And king of our lives as well.

Do Church

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Do we do church each Sunday or do we meet with the Lord? At this special season of Christmas do the words of scripture we hear so often year after year go over our heads in their familiarity? We’ve heard them so many times before, does the actual meaning of the words sink into our minds? We probably know the words off by heart, even if we use a different biblical version.

To be christened Joy could be a burden if we’re feeling sad. Joy by name, joy by nature won’t always be the case. My name Carol can also be a burden, I’m not noted for my lovely singing voice! But the names Jesus was given to proclaim His nature and calling – Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

We can say the right things at the Carol Service, even smile at the vicar’s wife but our hearts can remain untouched. It was Jesus Himself who told us that the outward appearances are not important, it is what is in the heart. It is our hearts that God sees and is interested in.

May the very core of our hearts be close to God. At Christmas He came to us, may we now come to Him.

Wiped Clean

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With the coming of Jesus we all have the chance to wipe the slate clean. Every slate has become pretty mucky. Past sin resolved or unresolved, friendships destroyed or unforgiven guilt. These things all mar our present and future.

It is the coming of Jesus who paid the debt on our behalf which makes all the difference. No longer do we need to be broken by the past. Our sins are as far away as the east is from the west. See Ps 103:12. Jesus has paid the debt completely. We are now as white as snow. Not the soiled snow after it has been trampled on, but virgin snow, sparkling white.

Yesterday

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An African proverbs says,’ Yesterday is another country. I no longer live there.’

Our worries and sins of the future can blight our present and future. But the past is past, dead and gone. Any sins of the past can’t be rectified, only learned from. Dwelling on the past will not change a thing. God says,’ See I am doing a new thing. Do you not perceive it.’ Is 43:19. God doesn’t want us to dwell in the past, He wants us to see beyond those things.

We are not the same people we were in the past. Circumstances are not the same. Through the birth of Jesus we see there is a new way. He is a new beginning. Nothing was ever the same again after His birth. Time turned on it’s axis. The old order of the law had passed away, the new had begun through Jesus Christ. No wonder the angels sang, the shepherds worshipped and the wise men travelled all to celebrate this momentous event.

Our worship at Christmas is just the continuation of their worship. The story has never dulled, the trust never diminished. ‘Glory to the new born King.’

Everlasting Justice

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The governments of this world so often only offer hollow promises, power games, deceit or corruption. By contrast God’s government offers sustainability, justice, and righteousness. Isaiah 9:7 tells us ‘He will reign on David’s throne and on His kingdom and over His kingdom establishing and uplifting it with with justice and righteousness from that time and for ever.’

It seems round the world at the moment some countries have dictators, some have evil wars and some have weak leaders. Faith in government seems to be at an all time low. We long for God’s justice to come where the vulnerable will not be exploited, the handicapped will not be overlooked and the poor will no longer be in need.

This is something that we can pray for. ‘Thy kingdom come,’ we pray in the Lord’s Prayer. We can be horrified at the injustices in the world that we see, but do not let us concentrate but concentrate of God of Everlasting Justice. In His time, not ours, justice will be done and seen to be done.