Truth That Sings

Christmas is less than a week away and many of you are listening to and singing the songs of this season.  As we sing we should get not only nostalgia but truth, so pay attention to what you sing and take the truths to heart.  Now, singing "Frosty the Snowman" is fun, but when you encounter a carol with brilliant truth embrace it.  Here are a few lines that have stuck out to me this year.

Hark the Herald Angels Sing
"Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth."

This song highlights so well the Gospel story.  Jesus laid aside His glory in heaven to live as a man to save men from death and to grace them with rebirth.

Joy to the World
"No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground,
He comes to make His blessings flow,
Far as the curse if found."

What Jesus accomplished beginning at Christmas was a cosmic victory.  No more sin, sorrow or thorny ground.  Everything infected by the curse (which is everything outside of heaven) would instead be soaked in blessing.  Jesus' work saves and "Heaven and Nature Sing!"

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
"And in despair I bowed my head,
There is no peace on earth I said,
For hate is strong that mocks the song,
Of peace on earth goodwill to men.

Then peeled the bells more loud and deep,
God is not dead nor does He sleep,
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth goodwill to men."

As I see terrorist attacks and war I, like the man who wrote the song during the American Civil War, wonder if peace on earth is even possible.  But then I hear the truth ring like a bell, "God is not dead nor does He sleep."  Where was God during the tragedy?  He was on the throne and the Christmas story reminds us that He has a perfect plan to bring peace on earth goodwill to men.

O Come All Ye Faithful
"Word of the Father now in flesh appearing."

Jesus wasn't just some baby born; Jesus was the Word described in John chapter 1, He is God Almighty in flesh, He was God with us.

The First Noel
"Then let us all with one accord,
sing praises to our heavenly Lord,
that hath made heaven and earth of nought,
and with His blood mankind has bought."

Jesus is God, the very God that made everything from nothing.  Baby Jesus grew to be the man whose blood purchased sinners from every nation, tribe and tongue.  Let us this Christmas sing praises to this Jesus, this Jesus who was, is and forever will be the creating and redeeming God.

As we listen to and sing Christmas carols let's not miss the truth that's proclaimed.  O Come Let Us Adore Him today.