Revelation 1: 10-20
In his book, "Hope for Each Day," Billy Graham wrote, "Christmas is not just a date on the calendar. It is not just an annual holiday. It is not a day to glorify selfishness and materialism. Christmas is the celebration of the event that set Heaven to singing; an event that gave the stars of the night sky a new brilliance...They declare that Heaven has come to our rescue, and that God has not left us to stumble alone on Earth's pathway. What a wonderful and glorious hope we have because of that first Christmas."
And I would suggest the same is true of this Christmas day, as well as every day of the year. That is why the message of this book—the battle is the Lord's—is one for the whole year, and actually, well beyond. When the Apostle John is given a vision of these last days—what we know today as the Book of Revelation—he described the glorified Jesus in very glowing terms. He said, "...His eyes were as a flame of fire; and His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters." (1: 14b-15) No, we are not talking about a little baby anymore—that baby grew up, suffered and died on the Cross of Calvary to be God's perfect sacrifice for your sin nature and mine, awaiting His reception into our hearts and lives. Gurgling and cooing are in the past—the present and the future will need a grown-up King Jesus! Praise God—the battle does belong to the Lord! John also saw this—"And He had in His right hand seven stars: and out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and His countenance was as the sun shineth in His strength." (vs. 16) Quite honestly, the seven stars are either angels, who are assigned, each to a church, to assist it in its spiritual warfare, OR the true pastors of those same churches. I would suggest it is both! True pastors, led by the Holy Spirit of God and His heavenly host, forever guiding the people of God into spiritual warfare against worldly ways. The battle is the Lord's! The double edged sword is a picture of the Word of God, which either cuts away sin from the churches and brings God's grace—the power of God to live for God—OR, cuts a church away from the Kingdom of God in judgment for its disobedience. Of course, the Lord wants it to be the former, but both are a possibility.
Let's face it—one or the other is a certainty! Which would we rather hear on that final day—"Well done, thou good and faithful servant," (Mt. 25:21)
or, "Thou wicked and slothful servant," (vs. 26a)—both of which are found in the same parable about faithfulness, devotion, and commitment. The choice is ours—the stars that shone on Christmas, still shine every night right now—even behind the clouds! Heaven, in Jesus Christ, has come to our rescue. What a wonderful and glorious hope we have in that the battle is the Lord's. Follow Him into the battle, and see the victory—Thank God today, and every day! In this, you will have a very Blessed Christmas!
~ Rev. Roy D. Warren, Jr.
