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Christmas in Heaven

Imagine celebrating Christmas in heaven! Have you ever considered what it will be like to celebrate Christ’s birthday face-to-face with Him, live, in person? All our earthly festivities and traditions no doubt will seem wholly inadequate. The lights, tinsel and decorations we so love will be replaced with the radiance of His glory, reflective golden streets, sparkling jeweled castles, and a panorama of brilliantly resplendent colors. “…The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it, and the Lamb is its light.” Revelation 21:23 Heavenly hosts will sing and play instruments evoking harmonies and melodies of infinite variety. Just as the angelic hosts sang “glory to God in the highest” at the birth of Jesus, all the saints will join them in praise and worship to the King of kings and Lord of lords!

In eternity where time is no more, will dates even matter? Will His “birth date” be set aside for a special celebration or will we celebrate eternally? Will the question on every mind be asked, “Father, how did you create the virgin birth?” Or in the presence of His awesome power and surrounded with heavenly miracles, will the virgin birth seem perfectly “normal”?

Christmas in the Millennium

Now envision Christmas in the Millennium when Christ shall rein on earth for 1000 years. Will our Christmas traditions persist? Will people continue gift giving to one another or will they present their gifts to Christ alone? Imagine traveling annually to Jerusalem to go before His throne on the Temple Mount. “Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all you who love her; … Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream… It shall be that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come and see My glory… All flesh shall come to worship before Me,” says the Lord. Isaiah 66:10 –21

What gifts will be brought to the reigning Messiah? At His birth the three wise men brought gold, frankincense and myrrh, gifts of great value in the first century. Gold represented His kingship, frankincense His priestly role of intercession, and myrrh His death and burial. Surely He will receive gifts demonstrating our love, devotion, and thankfulness, innumerable sacrifices of praise!

Future generations of the Millennium will revel in His very presence. Surely the Halleluiah Chorus will be sung everywhere! All families, gathered together around warm hearths, will read the Christmas story. Manger scenes once again will be seen on every court house lawn. Christmas Eve candle light services will be attended by one and all to praise and thank him for His incarnate birth and His long awaited second coming.

We know for a certainty that all mankind will be filled with awe, not only for the miracle birth of Emanuel, but for His return as reigning King. Jesus declared, “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him…” Matthew 25:31—32

The Spirit of Christmas

In Dickens’ classic, “A Christmas Carol,” Scrooge reflected on his Christmas past and present with regret. In a vision of his Christmas future, Scrooge saw in horror his dark demise and eagerly adopted a spirit of humility, grace and forgiveness. Transformed by the spirit of Christmas, Scrooge demonstrated its power to change lives.

Indeed the full meaning of the Father’s gift of His only Son, the baby Jesus, is the redemption of all mankind. Because of the Christ child, our Christmas Future will be an unending celebration of salvation realized through His ministry of teaching, miracles, crucifixion and resurrection.

Two recent Christmas movies share a theme all too common today – towns that were suffering economic downturn with families in distress sought to save money by canceling their annual Christmas pageants. But in each town the protagonist thought better and persisted in making a way to bring the people together and celebrate the special season despite dismal circumstances. In the end, encouraged by the Christmas spirit and miraculous changes around them, united in love families experienced reconciliation and renewed hope for a better tomorrow.

All Things Restored

What will be missing in Christmas Future? “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21: 4 No longer will people be rushed, stressed and focused on the temporal. No longer harried, worried and disappointed. No longer will Christmas be dismissed with a “bah humbug”! Rather than being about everything but the Christ child, Christmas Future will glorify Jesus alone. Christ the Savior alone will be worshipped, Christ the Lord alone praised.

Christmas Future Now

The spirit of Christmas is infectious as love and joy transform lives with hope and peace! Experience Christmas Future now by receiving His perpetual gift of salvation. Gift Him with acceptance, acknowledge His sovereignty, and bring a sacrifice of praise to Him. Step into Christmas Future with Jesus this Christmas and let true joy, perfect peace and everlasting hope invade your today and tomorrow for all eternity.