Wideplace

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God

I can picture the scene in heaven. God has assembled the heavenly host. His Son is about to be born into His own creation. God asks the question: “Who wants to make the announcement?” In an instant every angel arm is raised aloft, determined to be the one who gets to tell the world about Jesus.

“I only need one of you” God tells the assembled multitude.

Later as the chosen angel appears in the sky over the Bethlehem fields the rest of the heavenly host watch with bated breath while the announcement is made. Barely able to contain their excitement they listen intently as the message is given. And then, they can contain themselves no longer and in an instant the poor shepherds see the entire heavenly host, revealed in their glory, worship and adoration saying as one:

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased”

This story was too big for them not to be a part of! They couldn’t stay away from it. This story is too big for us not to be a part of it. We need to play our part with the whole host of heaven in worshipping our great God and Saviour this Christmas, and every day as we enjoy the fruits of His incarnation in our lives.

Enoch walked with God and was not

In the Garden of Eden, we are told, God was to be found walking in the cool of the day. The implication is that this was a time of fellowship between God and His created creatures: Adam and Eve. After they had sinned Adam and Eve’s instinctive reaction was to hide from God and from this time of fellowship. Men and women have been doing the same ever since!

1 John 1:6 tells us that if we claim to be having fellowship with God while we walk in darkness we are lying. Walking with God involves walking in the light, because He is light. Walking with God involves allowing His light to shine on every thought, word and deed because He is by our side, in our thoughts and on our lips, because He is the focus of our lives.

In our modern busy lives of constant attention to trivia walking with God is more difficult than ever to cultivate. But, cultivate it we must. We were made for fellowship; we were made to walk with God. Right through Scripture God promises that He will be our God and we will be His people - a special relationship! But we keep walking away.

The story of Enoch is a one line mystery, and yet a fascinating account of one man’s walk with God. I generally don’t tend to speculate on what Scripture omits, but can’t help but envisage this scenario:

Enoch was a man who was devout; he cultivated his relationship with his God in a generation that were far from God and about to be judged. In his walk with God he grew closer and closer to God. One day Enoch was walking and sharing in fellowship and worship with his God. As they walked Enoch forgot the time and the place, so engrossed was he with his Maker. On and on they walked, getting further and further from Enoch’s home and world both physically and spiritually. When they eventually looked up God said to Enoch: “You’re nearer to my place than yours, you might as well come all the way.”

Brother Lawrence, on his death bed, when asked what he was doing stated that he was doing what he would be doing for all eternity: blessing God, praising Him, adoring Him and loving Him with all his heart. For Brother Lawrence, as for Enoch it was a small step from this world to the next.

This is how I want to be. In the distraction of this world I want to live where I belong, in the world to come. Colossians 3:3 states that our life is already hidden with Christ in God. Lets seek to walk as Enoch walked: in God.

Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple! - Psalm 65:4

There is one simple satisfaction for the believer. It is the fact that Almighty God has chosen to bring me near to Him! To be brought into His courts, where He reigns is true blessedness!

I will be satisfied with the goodness of His house, the holiness of His temple. This is enough, this is everything. Nothing else compares.

“We shall be satisfied…”

And he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made… - 2 Kings 18:4

Hezekiah was a brave and wise king. The bronze serpent had been made by Moses at God’s command. Moses was the leader who led Israel out of Egypt, who brought them the 10 commandments. The serpent reminded them of God’s mercy in a time of judgement.

This serpent was their spiritual heritage - something too sacred to dispose of. But, it had become a snare to the people; it had become a substitute for God, and as such it caused harm.

Hezekiah saw this and broke the serpent in pieces - the people needed to have their spiritual heritage broken in order for it not to become a snare and a stumbling block.

There are many stumbling blocks in our own spiritual traditions: things that somehow become more important than God, or His people: the way that we dress, our church government, views on communion.

Anything that takes our focus away from the proper worship of God and fellowship with His people, no matter how sacred it appears to be needs to be broken up and removed from our lives and our churches.

He said, “It is finished” - John 19:30

Despite its context, this verse is one of the most hopeful verses in Scripture! This is that crucial point in all of time where the focus of all eternity rest on the cross, and what was taking place between Jesus, the Christ, and God.

The one Greek word ‘tetelestai’ which is usually translated as ‘it is finished’ embodies all our hope: it has been accomplished. This is not ‘I’m finished, done for’, but ‘I have completed the very thing for which I came into the world!’ - what a difference!

Jesus is in control, and with this statement our salvation is purchased, our destiny is secured, the bride is betrothed. With this ‘accomplished’ heaven is assured for all who hope and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ!