The most beloved Christmas Poem of all time has to be “Twas the Night before Christmas.” I remember enjoying hearing it read by my Dad and later reading it myself in one of My Golden Books. I also recall one Christmas when Robin’s brother Dave read it to our son Matt on Christmas Eve. It’s a classic, but did you know it was first published on December 23, 1823 in the New York newspaper The Sentinel by Clement Clarke Moore with the original title, “A Visit from St. Nicholas?” It’s from his account that one third of American adults can recite all eight names of Santa’s reindeer. Can you?
In keeping with a new twist on an old favorite; I’d like to share with you a piece written in 1984 by an unknown author at Bethany Farms. It is much more sobering and much more important. It’s called, “Twas the night before Jesus came.” Read it and consider those you love the most who are yet to surrender their lives to the love of Jesus Christ.
“Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house
Not a creature was praying, not one in the house.
Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care
In hopes that Jesus would not come there.
The children were dressing to crawl into bed,
Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.
And Mom in her rocker with baby on her lap
Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.
When out of the East there arose such a clatter,
I sprung to my feet to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here
With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray
I knew in a moment this must be THE DAY!
The light of His face made me cover my head
It was Jesus! returning just like He had said.
And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth,
I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.
In the Book of Life which He held in His hand,
Was written the name of every saved man.
He spoke not a word as He searched for my name;
When He said, “It’s not here” my head hung in shame.
The people whose names had been written with love
He gathered to take to His Father above.
With those who were ready He rose without a sound
While all the rest were left standing around.
I fell to my knees, but it was too late;
I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate.
I stood out and I cried as they rose out of sight;
Oh, if only I had been ready tonight.
In the words of this poem the meaning is clear;
The coming of Jesus is near.
There’s only one life and when comes the last call
We’ll find that the Bible was true after all!
The Bible is true. As a former Sunday school teacher of mine used to say, “The Bible is true from Genesis to Maps!” We celebrate Jesus’ first Advent to the planet earth, as we anticipate His return. It’s been over 2000 years since that first event; but I feel certain we’re less than 2000 years away from the next. It could be any day! Many people missed him the first time He came; but no one will miss Him the next time. Paul wrote this to the Christians at Thessalonica nearly twenty centuries ago:
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” – I Thess. 4:16-17
Guard your heart, keep one eye on the heavens and listen for the trumpet or maybe the shofar! See you here, there or in the air!
Yours in Christ’s Love,
Pastor Mark
PS – Remember this Sunday’s “gift” – The Gift of Love and Sunday night’s Cantata, “Tapestry of Light: A Celtic Christmas Celebration” performed by our Advent Choir, Directed and accompanied by Sharon Austin and musicians. Be sure to be here and invite your friends and neighbors too! Blessings -
Posted on
Thu, December 15, 2011
by Mark McAdow