Friday, December 25, 2009

What if Christ had not come...

"They will call him Immanuel" - which means, "God with us." --Matthew 1:23

An excerpt from "Streams in the Desert" by L.B. Cowman.

There's a song in the air!
There's a star in the sky!
There's a mother's deep prayer,
And a baby's low cry!
And the star rains its fire
While the beautiful sing,
For the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King.

A number of years ago a remarkable Christmas card was published by the title "If Christ Had Not Come." It was based on our Savior's own words, "If I had not come," in John 15:22. The card pictured a minister falling asleep in his study on Christmas morning and then dreaming of a world into which Jesus had never come.

In his dream, he saw himself walking through his house, but as he looked, he saw no stockings hung on the chimney, no Christmas tree, no wreaths of holly, and no Christ to comfort and gladden hearts or to save us. He then walked onto the street outside, but there was no church with its spire pointing toward heaven. And when he came back and sat down in his library, he realized that every book about our Savior had disappeared.

The minister dreamed that the doorbell rang and that a messenger asked him to visit a friend's poor dying mother. He reached her home, and as his friend sat and wept, he said, "I have something here that will comfort you." He opened his Bible to look for a familiar promise, but it ended with Malachi. There was no gospel and no promise of hope and salvation, and all he could do was bow his head and weep with his friend and his mother in bitter despair.

Two days later he stood beside her coffin and conducted her funeral service, but there was no message of comfort, no words of a glorious resurrection, and no thought of a mansion awaiting her in heaven. There was only "dust to dust, and ashes to ashes, " and one long, eternal farewell. Finally he realized that Christ had not come, and burst into tears, weeping bitterly in his sorrowful dream.

Then suddenly he awoke with a start, and a great shout of joy and praise burst from his lips as he heard his choir singing these words in his church nearby:

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels,

O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!


Let us be glad and rejoice today, because He has come. And let us remember that proclamation of the angel: "I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10-11).

From our family to yours, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.

16 comments:

Brooke said...

Merry Christmas. Praying for you and Chloe. Your story continues to inspire me. Thanks for all your beautiful words that you share with us. Love and Blessings this holiday season.......Brooke Walker

Jill said...

Sending love your way.

Merry Christmas!

Launa said...

Merry Christmas! Praying for you and your entire family today!
Glory to God in the Highest and on earth, peace goodwill toward men!

Dove said...

You do not know me. I've followed your journey through another friend who asked me to pray for you months ago, and I don't think she knows you personally either. Merry Christmas to you, Chloe, and all those who are near and dear to you. I'm so thankful Jesus is the center of your life, which allows you to continue your journey with hope and a deep faith of God's promise to you...to all of us.

Donna said...

Thank God he sent his Son. Praise be to God! Merry Christmas!

Colleen said...

Merry Christmas, Brady, Chloe, and Sara. I know, too, that Sara must be having a wonderful Christmas in heaven, though I know you both must be missing her terribly too. Thank you for being a shining light of love, hope, and faith for all of us. xoxoxo
--Colleen Kolsti

Here at home said...

Merry Christmas, Brady and Chloe. I am so grateful to know we have a Savior - Even Christ the Lord who was born and lived to save mankind. Our family hopes you have a wonderful day.

Sarah said...

Merry Christmas! Thank you so much for taking the time to share!

Stephaney said...

Merry Christmas!
I am a day behind but that is the story of my life. : )
I really hope you and Chloe had a nice day yesterday. I want to tell you that my family continues to lift you both up in prayer every single day.
Thank you for continuing your blog. You have NO idea how it ministers to many many many!

Ashley said...

Merry Christmas! Hope you & your sweet baby girl had a nice Christmas! Still praying for you guys, always! ;)

Bekah said...

I love the Streams in the Desert book. I read it a few years ago as my daily devotional - from the original version (I called it the King James version). I recently bought the updated edition to read again next year, and this post reminds me why I wanted to do that! Praying for you as the year concludes and the new one begins...

christie said...

My husband is an Eagle pilot and we heard of your story through friends of friends. I have been following your blog for awhile now, and want to say that your and Sara's example of faith has truly been an encouragement. She was, from the pictures I've seen, a beautiful woman on the outside, and it seems on the inside too. I can only imagine how greatly you miss her. The fighter pilot's job being what it is, I've spent hours (sad but true!) thinking about what I would do or how I would feel if I lost Todd. I think the world would seem a stranger to me, but I finally know (I think:) that I would not be alone, that the Lord would be with me in a real way. My boys are another story (we have two), I'm still struggling with the Lord a little on that one. Their favorite song is "Blessed be the Name of the Lord." Thank you for continuing to bless His name even through your pain. I loved your thoughts on His sovereignty and all the ways He might have used the timing of your wife's illness to provide for your time together and for your daughter. I pray for you a blessed New Year. I know that the Lord has plans to prosper you and to provide for you in many ways. Thank you to you and Sara for walking a very rough road faithfully and sharing it. It calls us all higher. God Bless, Christie Moore

Denise said...

You don't know me, but I've been following your blog (I found it through a friend). I have had such a horrible year and reading your blog forces me to remember that Jesus is love even when the whole world is falling apart. Thank you for reminding me of the important things.

Christen said...

Wishing you a happy new year. In Friendswood now but off to San Antonio tomorrow just for the weekend, which made me think of you and the baby. She IS getting so cute. Like a little baby model. You are tremendous and I am so glad to know that you understand there is a good ending to all of this. I am LDS and I just wanted to share a scripture that comes to mind. "All these things wherewith you have been afflicted shall give you experience and shall work together for your good, and to my name's glory, saith the Lord." Will keep praying for you all!

Gretchen said...

I just found your blog and stayed up until 1:30 this a.m. reading it from start to finish. What a journey! Your family's faith, even in the midst of the storm has touched me beyond words.

I've written about your journey in a post on my blog because I know that my readers (non-believers and believers alike) will be moved by your faith.

Praying for you today, and many days to come.

Channe said...

What a beautiful story. Thanks for sharing!