Monthly Blog: Hopes and Fears of all the Years

 

As I sat and enjoyed our special Christmas celebration and remembrance of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ my attention became fixed upon the lyrics of a Christmas carol that I have been singing since grade school but had never stopped to really contemplate the significance of the message found in the last line of the first verse of “O Little Town of Bethlehem”: “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.”

         Since Adam opened the door to sin in Paradise and thus was expelled from Paradise and access to the Tree of Life, mankind has lived on the cursed earth as enemies of their Creator. Instead of an eternity of bliss they would live but a short time, long enough to experience and learn the sinfulness of sin and the sorrow and unfairness of a world run by Satan and man. With the wages of sin being death, all mankind has lived in dread of the process of dying and the fear of the unknown, of the state of the dead. The one thing man knew about death was that no one escaped it: the rich and the poor, the kings and peasants were all equal when the “breath of life” was taken away. (Heb 2:14-15) ^“Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,  and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Fear has been the primary tool of Satan’s dominance over mankind and his ultimate weapon has been the fear of death. Be it fear of the always present, potential danger of that “out of nowhere” strike that fells men daily or the slow disintegration of strength and mind on the steady march to the grave, the fear of death has been the scourge of men, and the great weapon Satan has used to dominate them. 

         Since man is made in God’s image and God has put eternity in the heart and desire of all men (Eccl 3:11), man lives simultaneously in hope, wishes and fear. The Old Testament speaks of a time to come when a people will be led by the Messiah into a time of peace, plenty, and perfection but who will those people be? God told Daniel (Dan 12:2,3)

“And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt.  Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever” ,

and Job declared that he knows his redeemer lives and in his own flesh he would see God (Job 19: 25-27) but how? (Isa 53:1) “Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” All the hopes and dreams of mankind could never approach the reality of the good things God has in store for His beloved creation: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us through His spirit.” (1Cor2:9,10) Blessed are your eyes and ears for you see, hear and comprehend the Gospel of the kingdom.

         All the promises and Messianic prophesies of God found in the Holy Scriptures, the hopes and fears of all mankind lying dormant in death and waiting, meet in the manger in Bethlehem with the long-promised birth of the Messiah to a virgin, and the angels proclaimed “I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” In this babe begins the fulfilment of all the Messianic prophecies of the Holy Scriptures.  Thirty-three years later we read “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles:  The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.” (Mt 4:15-16) Indeed “the hopes and fears of all the years” now more than 6,000 years’ worth come together for answer in Jesus Christ. “Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

         In the Millennial Age, when all who are in the grave hear the voice of the Son of Man and come forth to the resurrection of judgment, will give an account for the lives they have lived and they will see all their hopes and fears come together in the great “Light of the World” as God restores Paradise and there is a new heaven and new earth where righteousness reigns forever as God always intended it to be.

         The great Light has come and shined upon you in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. There is no need to fear anyone or anything and all our hopes will be exceeded beyond our wildest dreams as the prophecies of God march on to completion. (Rev 22:20-21) ^“He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”