December 24, 2009
Introduction For me, Christmas and music go together. Carols with sing-able melodies and memorable words describe the mystery and meaning of God’s greatest love for us. You know them so well. Just fill in the blanks: “O come all ye… Hark! the herald… O little town … Joy to the world the…” Melody and music carry meaning into our memory, deep into the mind and heart.
And that’s just the sacred side. There are all the silly or romantic songs of Christmas. “Have yourself a merry…” Little Christmas? What in the world does that mean? “I’m dreaming of a…” White Christmas? How does that work in Phoenix or San Diego? “I saw mommy kissing…” Don’t get me going on Santa, elves, reindeer, and North Pole. For me, Christmas and music go together. But more importantly, so do music and faith. I came to faith in Jesus at age 19 through singing. God’s people have always worshiped the Lord and expressed God’s truth through music and song. Is there any other event in all of human history that has inspired more music, more poetry, more art than the birth of Jesus? Sir Thomas Browne (17th century English writer and medical doctor) said, “Music strikes in me a profound contemplation of the First Composer.” It always has for people of faith. Genesis 1 is a song by the First Composer (our Creator) set in seven verses of Creation and Sabbath. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Moses and Miriam sang of their deliverance in Exodus 15. “The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.” The shema of Deuteronomy 6 was sung as Israel’s theme (still is in every Jewish home), “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength.” And of course we have 150 songs of praise and prayer in the book of Psalms. “The Lord is my shepherd… Sing to the Lord a new song… I lift my eyes to the mountains… Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” So, when God’s eternal plan of redemption, the perfect fulfillment of the covenant arrived on that first Christmas night, it is no wonder the sky lit up with the glory of God as angel and heavenly host sang, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” And the followers of Jesus have been singing ever since. For when the Lord Jesus comes into your life, into your heart by faith, a wondrous chorus of light and warmth sings for joy. I. Why We Sing (Ephesians 5:8-14) In Paul’s letter to the Ephesian church, he wrote, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live (and I say, sing) as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.” There is so much darkness in our world. There is poverty and hunger. There is alienation and abuse. There is loneliness and grief. There is sickness and death. In fact, Christmas can be the most depressing, hurting, stressful time of the year for many people. The carol says it, “Long lay the world in sin and error pining.” The Bible describes the darkness, “There is no difference. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). And, “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). This darkness engulfs every life. As it says, “For you were once darkness.” Infamous philosopher Thomas Hobbes reportedly cried out in despair at the hour of his death, “I am taking a fearful leap into the dark.” Without Christ, there is no light. “But,” here is the hope of Christmas. “But now you are light in the Lord.” Again, the carols sing it, “Word of the Father now in flesh appearing” and “Light and life to all he brings; risen with healing in his wings.” God has spoken to us clearly; God has sung to us beautifully in Jesus Christ. “A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices.” The Bible proclaims good news for you and me. “The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). This is why we sing. This is why music and Christmas go together. The songs of faith are wonderful to those who know, love, and serve the Lord. That’s why we sing. II. How to Sing (Ephesians 5:15-20) Now here’s how we sing. “Be very careful then how you live (how you sing),” Paul writes to the church. “Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs; singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to the God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Now we have several wonderful voices up here tonight. Laura, Gretchen, Erik and the rest of the choir. We have many out there who sing with melody and harmony with the music. And we have some who “couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket.” But that’s not what’s important. Sing and make music “in your heart” to the Lord. As the brilliant 19th century preacher Charles Spurgeon wrote, “There is more melody in Jesus in the manger than there is in worlds on worlds, rolling in grandeur around the throne of the Most High.” The musical sounds are magnificent this Christmas Eve. But are you singing in and with your heart tonight? “Born to give us second birth.” Jesus made it as clear as he could. “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born again, born anew, born from above” (John 3:3). “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son (at Christmas, on Good Friday, and on Easter) that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Conclusion Friends, the darkness of ignorance, error, or evil can be radically transformed by the light of Christ. Whatever disappointments, failures, grief or loss that have come into your life or mine, you and I can find purpose, forgiveness, healing and recovery through the grace of Jesus Christ this Christmas. We will sing, “Cast out our sin and enter in, Be born in us today.” The Bible invites us, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13). This is the joy of Christ. This is the song of Christmas.
Let us pray together. |
