A Christmas card entitled, "If Christ Had Not Come" told of a pastor who worked in his study all through Christmas Eve in preparation for the Christmas morning service. Being very tired, he dozed off and dreamt of a world to which the Savior had never come. In his dream, he found himself looking through his home, but there were no candles and Advent Wreaths. he walked out into the street and found no church spires pointing heavenward. Back in his library, every book about Jesus had disappeared from the shelves.

A knock at the door brought a request for him to visit a dying mother. At her bedside, he said, "I have something to read to you that you need to hear." He opened his Bible to share some familiar Scriptures concerning repentance and the need to be born-again, but the book ended at Malachi. There was no gospel, none of Paul's convicting and comforting letters-- not even John's Book of Revelation. There was no promise of life beyond the grave. He could only bow his head and weep in hopeless desperation. Two days later, he stood beside the grave to conduct this mother's funeral. But he could give no word of changed hearts and glorious resurrections, only "dust to dust, and ashes to ashes", and one, long, last, final farewell. In his dream, he burst into sobbing.

Suddenly, nearby music awoke him from his sleep. When he realized what he was hearing, a great shout of joy burst from his lips. The choir in his church next door was singing, "O Come all ye faithful, Come and behold Him, O Come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord." The fact was, Jesus had indeed come and had promised he would soon return. Hallelujah, Jesus had come-- Praise be to God! It was up to this pastor and others to truly appreciate what that meant. Here he had spent the whole night preparing his Christmas morning message, and the Lord gave it to him in just a few minutes.

Had Christ not come, we would have no New Testament, no gospel, no church, no Lord's Day, no repentance, no forgiveness of sins, no changed and transformed born-again hearts, no hope of His eternal presence. How thankful that should make us! We must allow the light of the Holy Spirit to invade every aspect of our lives to make sure that we are not just accepting the Incarnation rather "matter-of-factly". Recently, I read of some Sunday School kids who believed that Christmas is all about family gatherings, big dinners, presents, holiday movies, and, O yes, the birth of Jesus. It was obvious that this perverted understanding of Christmas had been discussed in class--and even taught. But even if a born-again Sunday School teacher shares the truth, and the children "learn" the truth, it still needs to be accepted personally, in the heart.. Jesus is not just something to "add on" to Christmas celebrations. He needs to be born anew in each individual person and that happens through humble surrender to His Lordship.

The Lord Jesus taught that failure to put away pride and then to surrender, would result in being left on the outside. At the same time, "outsiders", who accept Him, would become insiders (Luke 13:25-30). At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord warned against the frame of mind which thinks that familiarity with His name guarantees divine acceptance. Mere "hearing" acquaintance with the Savior avails nothing but a false sense of security, unless backed up by heartfelt obedience. Jesus said in Matt. 7, "Not every one that saith unto me, 'Lord, Lord', shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven. Many will say to me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name, casting out devils, and doing many wonderful works?' And then will I profess unto them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, ye workers of iniquity.'"

The unrepentant, dying thief was so near the Savior, had his hands been free, he could have reached out and touched Him. So near, and yet, so far, because this thief failed to surrender. In this Season, Christmas carols repeatedly blare out, "Christ the Savior is born", but many mouth the words, being void of personal commitment to the Incarnate Son of God. One carol even exclaims that He "died to give us second birth"-- there it is, born-again, and yet many do not really get it. I think one big hindrance to people truly understanding these things is in the manger itself. Yes, Jesus, the Holy God of the Universe, humbled Himself and became a baby born in a cattle stall. That can not be denied, but He did not stay there! He grew up, suffered and died to offer you and me salvation from our sins, and then, rose again to new life. He is no longer a baby to be cuddled-- He is the Lord of Glory, reigning at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for you and for me. So many, at this time of year, get instantly religious, and for the most part, it is because it is easier to take Jesus' gurgling than to take His commandments. As a baby, He can't tell us what to do. Yes, by all means, be thankful this Christmas for His birth, for without His birth, He couldn't have died for you-- He was born to die! Celebrate His first coming, but don't divorce it from His soon Second Coming to take His true overcoming church home and to judge the world in righteousness.

Lately, I have been noticing a concentration in society concerning Jesus coming back. There is a popular song out now that speaks of Jesus coming back amongst the poor and downtrodden. Problem is, He already did that! A recent "Supermarket Newspaper" declared boldly that Jesus is already back on the earth-- walking on water and raising the dead. Problem is, he already did that! The Bible says He is coming back a different way-- He is coming back in glory! Remember? Revelation 19 tells us: "And I saw Heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself. And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in Heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, and with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh, a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."

Yes, He is coming back, but it won't be as a cute, gurgling baby to whom no one will have to be accountable. Turn to the Word, turn to prayer, turn to Jesus and seek His face continually in these days (Psalm 105:4). He came to offer His own blood as payment for your sins and mine, "for without the shedding of blood, there can be no remission of sins" (Heb. 9:22). But that price must be accepted through repentance of sin and turning to the Lord of Christmas in humble surrender and submission. Perhaps, this adaptation of the popular Christmas poem, will help to bring it all home for you:

'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE JESUS CAME
Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house
Not a creature was praying, not one in the house.
Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care
In hopes that Jesus would not come there.

The children were dressing to crawl into bed,
Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.
And Mom in her rocker with baby on her lap
Was watching the late Show while I took a nap.

When out of the East there arose such a clatter,
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.
Away to the windows, I flew like a flash
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!

When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here!
With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray
I knew in a moment this must be THE DAY!

The light of His face made me cover my head
It was Jesus returning just like He had said.
And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth,
I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.

In the Book of Life which He held in His hand,
Was written the name of every saved man.
He spoke not a word as He searched for my name;
When He said, "It's not here", my head hung in shame.

The people whose names had been written with love
He gathered to take to His Father above.
With those who were ready He rose without a sound
While all the rest were left standing around.

I fell to my knees, but it was too late;
I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate.
I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight;
Oh, if only I had been ready tonight.

In the words of this poem, the meaning is clear:
The coming of Jesus is drawing near.
There's only one life and when comes the last call
We'll find that the Bible was true after all!

When it comes to that day, you will not just wake up from it like it was a bad dream. Today is the day of salvation, today is the day of grace. Seek Jesus today, make Him the priority of your life-- especially in the busyness of this season-- and He will make your heart new (2 Corinthians 5:17). A great shout of joy will burst from your lips as you finally truly realize that you do live in a world to which the Savior did come--and He is coming again. In this, and this alone, will you have a truly Blessed and Merry Christmas!