Monday, December 24, 2012

Day 24: The End

When you get to the end of something, you often have a clearer view of what was important.  Often at funerals, you forget all the annoying things about a person and focus on their good traits.  When you get to the end of a large project, you look back on all the scuffles and struggles and can see which ones were critical and which ones had little effect on the end project.

This last devotion is going to be short and sweet.  My family and I are embroiled in the middle of a violent stomach flu and I have a horrendous sprain in my wrist from falling while rollerskating and because of the stomach flu, I can't keep any of my pain meds down (making typing quite painful).  But though this message is short, it is one that can completely change the way you see the world.

Now that you are at the end of the advent season, look back and see what things didn't get done or you missed doing.  Did you not buy gifts for everyone on your list?  Did you not get to make cookies this year?  Did your Christmas cards get out late?  Did you miss the holiday office party?

At the end of the advent season, when all that is left is Christmas Day, what things were really important?  I know there are some things I'm disappointed about, but when it comes down to it, there is still a newborn King to celebrate and worship and little else matters.

This same thing will be paralleled at the end of our own lives, whether it is simply death or the impending "end of the world".  When we look back on our life as a whole, there will be disappointments, certainly, but only our devotion to Jesus will matter.

In 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Paul writes, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

The things of this world will waste away, but our only security, the only thing that will never change, is the Baby whose birth we celebrate tomorrow.  Celebrate His birth with all your might.  Celebrate Him for being God, for bringing us Salvation, for being the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.  Celebrate with all your heart and all the other things will slowly fade into the background.

So, to all of you who have been reading these daily devotionals, I hope they have inspired you and helped you to use this time to grow closer to Christ.  If you want to keep reading things I write, including Christian living tips and Christian book reviews, you can subscribe to my blog What I've Found Along the Way.  Merry Christmas and have a spirit-filled and safe holiday season!

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