Seems like a person has to do is say 2020 and everyone gets the message and just sadly shakes their heads.  It has been quite a year...from fires to floods, hurricanes to murder hornets with a worldwide pandemic thrown in....oh yeah and an election in America that was and continues to be interesting to say the least.

But thankfully, 2020 is coming to an end as it is time for Christmas music, movies, decorations and preparations.  I also enjoyed the Holidays as a child and that has not changed as I have gotten older.  I am happy every year when Ralphie gets his bb gun and when the Grinch's small heart grows 3 sizes that day and even when Clark gets a better Christmas bonus than a subscription to the Jelly of the Month Club (even though it is the gift that keeps on giving!)

And I have always enjoyed Christmas music in all forms including the good old Christmas Carols that we sing every year during church services in December.  There was one song that we sang that simply did not used to move me.  It seemed kind of dreary and somber for the season of Jesus in the Manger not to mention gifts and snow and school vacation.

I am talking about O Come O Come Emmanuel.  Here is the first verse: (hopefully you can hum along)
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.

Captives mourning in lonely exile?  Not exactly uplifting stuff. and there are 6 more verses all in the same mood.  So what?

Well one year as I was Christmas shopping, the music was playing in the background and I tuned in just as the chorus to O Come O Come Emmanuel played...each verse ends with the words.  Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel.  (Emmanuel which means "God with us" is one of the names used to describe the baby Jesus)

All of a sudden that little word "shall" struck me.  The song does not say, "Rejoice, Emmanuel has come, but Rejoice, Emmanuel SHALL come!" As I am sure you remember from a grammar class, "shall" is the future tense.  Not to be overly technical here, but it is talking about something that is going to happen but has not happened yet.  

So stop and think a second.  Israel is mourning in lonely exile, stuck in captivity...but told to do what?  REJOICE.  Why...because the savior, Emmanuel, God with us, will one day appear.   

In other words, God is faithful and trustworthy.  The great news is that when God makes a promise, we can rejoice in that promise even before we see it take effect.   When I understood that a bit better, I came to appreciate this song much more!

God has made many promises about a future with no tears, no sickness, no pain, no sorrow.  He has said that He will be with us forever taking care of our needs and our hurts.  2020 has been a reminder that we are not there yet, but the wonderful news is that we are still able to rejoice.

God has entered our world and a time will come when we SHALL see Him face to face and He SHALL set all things right.

Please find your hope in Him this season!

And by the way, the next one will be about another favorite song...The Little Drummer Boy!

Peace and blessing today!