The Christmas Carols: Past, Present, & Future HopeSample

Day 12

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Read: Hebrews 13:5-6; Matthew 28:20

There is a great scene in the 1995 movie “Apollo 13″ where Tom Hanks (playing the part of Astronaut Jim Lovell) sits in his back yard staring at the moon. Lovell was soon to pilot the famed Apollo 13 spaceship to a lunar landing. As he sat in his suburban backyard on terra firm, however, Lovell was thousands of miles from his destination. While staring at the moon, Lovell closes one eye and extends his fist in front of him then raises his thumb. The camera switches to Lovell’s perspective, showing the captain’s ability to make the moon disappear behind his thumb.

Now, two possible explanations exist regarding Lovell’s disappearing moon:

1. The disappearance of the moon was an optical illusion created by the close proximity of the finger to the eyeball. In other words, it was a matter of perspective.
2. Tom Hanks has an extremely large thumb! In other words, his thumb is bigger than the moon.

Of course, option one is correct! It also serves as a helpful reminder that our problems have a very near proximity to our eyes. Medical issues, crumbling relationships, and dashed dreams are so close to us that they feel enormous. In fact, their perceived size can even cause us to not see God in the midst of our difficulty.

Again, two possibilities exist:

1. We have really large problems . . . larger than the God who created the universe.
2. We are allowing our current circumstances to create an illusion, blinding us to the reality of God’s presence.

This Christmas season, many are no doubt dealing with tough trials. Because of that, we have a tendency to miss God. Under our stress and strain, we squint our eyes and see only that which is attached to our hands. Don’t be fooled! God is there! The infant born in Bethlehem is not small in stature . . . He is Lord, and He is our Immanuel – God with us. Therefore, sing loudly the chorus to “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.”

Be comforted because God does not disappear . . . He has come to us in Christ. Remember Jesus’ last words to His disciples, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” This promise dispels the illusion that we are alone. He is here, and we can trust Him with problems, big and small.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

God rest ye merry gentlemen let nothing you dismay.
Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day,
To save us all from Satan's power when we were gone astray.

Oh, tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy!
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy!

Fear not then, said the Angel let nothing you affright,
This day is born a Savior of a pure Virgin bright,
To free all those who trust in Him from Satan's power and might.

Oh, tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy!
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy!