O Come Emmanuel

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. Revelation 21:3

Well, I’ve been out of commission for such a long time now that my fingers can’t keep up with my ideas, and I’m having trouble formulating coherent sentences in my mind. A lot has happened since the last time I had some “alone time” with my laptop and my thoughts, and now that we are back together again, I don’t even know how/where to start.

I sort out my mental chest of recent memories and I decide to begin by turning my eyes toward Jesus, the One who we celebrate this season but must worship every day. As I focus my distracted eyes back on what’s important, I go to one of my favorite Christmas songs, O Come, O Come Emmanuel.

I don’t know what it is about that song. Perhaps it is the haunting melody which makes me think of ancient cultures. Maybe it is the dramatic performances by groups like Selah that captivate me. I think what draws me to it is, however, the Biblical prophecy the song holds. Hearing about the promise of the coming of the Lord, His second advent, intertwined in the beauty of this melancholic tune becomes a bright ray of light and hope which cuts through the thick gloom of such days like these.

After days, weeks and months of walking in the valley of the shadows, and thirsting for the living water, hearing about the Emmanuel, the God who is with us, surely refreshes my weary soul. By mortal standards, 2012 has not been a good year for me; however, by eternal perspectives, the pain has been nothing more than the glorious pain of growing in His knowledge and love.

Even though the loss this year has been great, the gains had by far outweighed it. Tasting the dirt-flavored bottom of the mythical but all too real pit has allowed me and those around me to rejoice in the victory of seeing the light again after been pulled out by the merciful hand of the Almighty. Victory is won because He has overcome the world and He is in me. He is the Great I AM and He lives in me, therefore, it doesn’t matter how deep the pit is or how dark the shadows that entangle the valley are or how final a last breath may appear, the sweet taste of resurrection can only be savored after death.

A new day is coming because He is alive and with us. He will come back again as He is already here. Spring will indeed come and bring cheer, for He has promised and He is Faithful. I hang on to that faithfulness. It is my only hope.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer 

Our spirits by Thine advent here 

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night 

And death's dark shadows put to flight. 

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel 

Shall come to thee, O Israel.