Joy to the World

Joy to the World

Luke 2:10-11

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

   Ah, the anticipation!  In many homes around the world the anticipation is becoming so thick you can cut it with a knife.  The tree is set in a special place and trimmed.  The lights are on and the tinsel gently moves with the air currents.  Presents are wrapped and carols are being hummed by busy people rushing around doing last minute chores.  Christmas dinner has been planned and is ready for cooking.  Pies and cookies wait in the fridge.  All is ready for the joy of Christmas morning.

   Joy, even the Christmas kind, is only a passing thing.  By now you've probably discovered that even a room full of shiny new Christmas gifts won't bring lasting joy.  Once the newness of the gift wears off, the joy begins to fade.  Presents get lost and toys get broken.  Left-overs begin to get stale and the outside lights and displays are turned off.  The nights become long and dark and cold.  The truth is nothing in this earthly life offers unending joy.

So hear again the message the angels proclaimed.

Joy to the World, the Lord is come!  Let earth receive her King.

   These words were put into a song by Isaac Watts in 1719 and ever since carolers have sung them out every Christmas season.  They tell the secret to real joy; we sing the words but do we hear the message?  Watts attempted to describe the indescribable in writing the words of "Joy to the World."   I am told the song was based on Psalms 98, a psalm written to describe the coming of the Messiah. 

   “Joy to the World. The Lord is come."  That’s good news!  How should we respond to this news?

“Let every heart prepare him room."   I like to be on time; it’s practically a religion to me.  I'm usually early for any appointment.  Preparing your heart is not something that can be done too early: the earlier you begin the better.  And it's a lifelong task - pray, work, share, forgive, love, comfort, edify. 

And why should we "Let men their songs employ"?  

“He comes to make His blessings flow" and "no more let sins and sorrows grow."

   Music has a way of getting the message across.  It's a good way to attempt to describe the indescribable.  So sing out and let the world know about this good news of great joy!

Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

   The angel promised that this news was of great joy, and he was not promising many brightly wrapped presents under the tree, but one Present wrapped in swaddling clothes in a stable.    

Stephen Cram                            2012                Colossians 2:8

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.  Colossians 2:8