"Ask anything..." This challenge, if given to the fearless heart of a child, would definitely encourage a response that would be shaped by the child's world of influences, but the child's imagination would be the only limit. Years and tears added to the blitzkrieg-like media assaults on this fearless heart, in many cases, has rendered it numb and dreamless. So sad ... that even in this Season of the potential culmination of millions of childhood dreams... there is a blank expression on the faces of the misdirected masses of humanity. We can't even begin to lift our disappointed hearts to expect a miracle, let alone move our lips to request one ... for the thought of one more unanswered prayer is just too painful.
BUT please don't give up ... "Behold!" (1275 verses in the Bible contain this word - "Behold" -- which means see this, don't miss this) Chapter 7 of Isaiah tells a story that parallels the emotions of many a heart today -- The days carried all sorts of tremendously horrible rumors of death and destruction.
There was a massive assault from an enemy that had absolutely no mercy... BUT In these dark war filled days of King Ahaz - God sent Isaiah to him to bring an amazingly unbelievable message of hope (one of those almost "too good to be true" event promises), AND on top of this message was an offer of a proof "sign" -- Verse 10,11 (don't miss this) "Moreover the LORD spoke again to Ahaz, saying --- Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above" ... Ahaz... had a heart that had been hardened by the combination of lust, sin and pride ...( like all of us )... but God still gave him an amazing opportunity for a personal connection -- the LORD himself spoke to Ahaz --- Ask anything! Ask for the earth to move, ask for the stars to dance, ask anything below or anything above... But you check out the story: Ahaz wearied the LORD with a pompous "adult-like" answer, "I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD".
God knew how bogus this answer was, but this offer of a sign was not going to be wasted on a moment of eternal anger, but was going to expand the scope of its offering to generations of "Believers" - those who were willing to become as little children once again by the miracle birth from above provided by a miracle birth below... AND THE SIGN WAS GIVEN: Isaiah 7:14 "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."Ahaz and his generation would now have to look forward in faith for an event to come, just as we have to look back in faith to an event that happened. The key at this juncture of our history is to BEHOLD -- BELIEVE-- and LIVE!
Every Christmas season has the drone of the discord of selfish temporal gathering, while the song of Emmanuel still sends out its pure sweet eternal refrain. Every generation has the opportunity to reverberate the sound or resist the sound. LET US REVERBRATE THE MESSAGE!
"Merry Christmas!" - The war cry of those who have brought their sin and shame to Him to find full cleansing and restoration because of the "Sign".
"Merry Christmas!" - The heart cry of "hopeful reciprocation" from the "seekers" who are taking the risk to be associated with the "Sign".
"Merry Christmas!" - The greeting of those in agreement with God as to the fulfillment of the "Sign" that causes such celebration.
"Merry Christmas! - The challenge to all to "Ask Anything!" God's Promises are not too good to be true ... God's promises are true.
Behold Jesus in this hour of great need.
Behold - do not miss this opportunity.
"Fall on your knees! Oh hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night, O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night, O night divine!
Did you know that the words to "O Holy Night" were written by a Wine Seller by trade? Though Actually not the most noble of trades, Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure (1847), being challenged to write a poem for Christmas by his parish priest(though he himself was not a church goer), upon looking at the Luke 2 - and the Christmas "Sign" again -- He wrote words that still stir our hearts today.
OK, it is in our hands once again -- Here is the Christmas Choice:
Stay anesthetized by our sin, shame and unbelief;
or BEHOLD!!!
Ask Anything!
HLFA -
Merry Christmas!
Jeff