Joy to the World

Do you remember listening to records?  They’re kind of like big black CDs, except you play them on a record player.  Instead of a laser reading the CD, there’s a needle you place on the record.  As the record spins around the one long spiral-shaped grove, the music plays.  I can remember being a kid and listening to Joy to the World over and over.  It’s my favorite Christmas song.

Earlier this week, however, I was reminded that when Isaac Watts wrote Joy to the World, it was about Jesus’ Second Advent.  The song doesn’t deal with His first coming as a baby in the manger, but rather speaks to His future coming as King.  As the song begins it makes this clear, “Joy to the world!  The Lord is come.  Let earth receive her King.”  

Next there is a call for all people to accept Him as their king.  “Let every heart prepare Him room.”  God’s desire is for ALL people to accept His Son as their Lord and Savior.  Jesus is the only one who can pay for all the sin in our lives.  No amount of effort on our part can ever earn that great gift of salvation.  

Those who have accepted His death on the cross as payment for their sins have a bright future to look towards.  There is coming a time when things will be set right.  Everything will be as it should. “No more let sins and sorrow grow, nor thorns infest the ground.”  Adam and Eve’s sin produced work for him, pain in childbirth for her, and a curse upon the ground which included thorns.  Some day when Jesus is ruling, the curse will be lifted and the earth will experience shalom, peace.  

So as you approach the Christmas holidays be sure to “prepare Him room”.  And when the holiday season gets stressful with long lines at the stores and few parking space at the mall, think of the the reason for the Christmas season.  Remember the peace to come when “sins and sorrows” are a thing of the past.  Merry CHRISTmas!  Click here: Joy to the World