Joyous Participation—Bright Anticipation

This was the miracle about which the angel spoke when he said concerning Mary,

And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. (Matt. 1:21)

In the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, deity touched humanity and, from that moment on, no person can doubt the love of God. The love of God was forever presented to man in the coming, the life, the death, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We understand Christmas when we recognize:

That God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. (2 Cor. 5:19)

So, as we celebrate Christmas again this year, we rejoice anew in the promise that

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

The gift of God, which is everlasting life, is the most unimaginably precious gift that God ever gave to man.

The third holiday that we remember during this holiday season is New Year’s Day. In this, we celebrate the end of the old year and the beginning of the new. The New Year celebration speaks to us of new opportunities, new possibilities, new hopes, new, bright anticipations. It even speaks to us of the marvel of the prophetic Word, in which God says, “Behold, I make all things new” (Rev. 21:5).

There are many times in life when we look back at occasions of failure or foolishness and, as a consequence, are greatly discouraged. It is so easy for the person who (with Satan’s help) has made a mistake, for him to say to himself, “God doesn’t love me anymore and there are no more possibilities in life.” This is, of course, a lie that is propagated by the devil. The fact that any person is yet alive in the flesh in this world is prima facie evidence that he has not run out of bright opportunities and great possibilities. To Christians of all of the ages, God speaks in His address to the church in Philadelphia and says, “See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it” (Rev. 3:8). Whatever sin or shortcoming may have overtaken the Christian, there is forgiveness, cleansing and the opportunity to begin anew. The coming of the new year should remind us of this.

Speaking about bright possibilities, this is surely the time to anticipate them. The world of technology has given us new, great instruments to touch millions of people with the message of the gospel of Christ. The very anxieties of the world expand the possibilities for global evangelism. This because we Christians alone have the message from on high for a time like this.

Order this classic book, “7 Men Who Rule the World from the Grave,” written by the late Dr. Dave Breese.

In addition, God, in His providence, has brought the brightest generation of young people into the church that most of us have ever seen. They are familiar with modern technology and, when consecrated to Christ, can be laborers in a marvelous day of tremendous possibilities. What will the future hold? It will hold danger, opportunity, challenge and a hundred unpredictables that lend great excitement to the prospect of tomorrow. Therefore, it is wise for the Christian to face this new year with bright anticipation and a sense of serious appreciation of the times in the midst of which we live. This New Year’s Day will bear greater import toward the future than most that we have seen.

We would also be remiss if we did not remind ourselves that the coming year may bring to pass that great event, the rapture of the church. All that is taking place in today’s world reminds us of the marvelous promise that Christ is coming again for His own. How grand that we have the promise,

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (1 Cor. 15:51-52)

Forged from Reformation: How Dispensational Thought Advances the Reformed Legacy

Dr. Ed Hindson—friend and colleague of the late Dr. Dave Breese—speaks about “Forged from Reformation.”

What a moment that will be! We shall receive our glorified bodies and be taken home to heaven, ever to be with the Lord. Yes, indeed, there is a generation that will not die, but will be caught up intact into that great meeting in the air. That generation could certainly be this generation! Why not?

We should, therefore, let “the holiday spirit” be filled with joyous participation in the opportunities of today and bright anticipation for tomorrow. Yes, before the year is out we all could be translated from earth to heaven. Because of this blessed hope, let us today and throughout this holiday season, be filled with joy.

Dr. Dave Breese (1926-2002) was an internationally known speaker, teacher and author. He founded the ministry of Christian Destiny in 1963, and through it proclaimed the gospel on weekly radio and television programs and in numerous books and booklets. In 1987, he also became the president and Bible teacher on The King Is Coming telecast, a role that he filled until his death in 2002. Other organizations that Dr. Breese served during his distinguished ministry career included Youth For Christ, Awana, Back to the Bible, National Religious Broadcasters and National Association of Evangelicals. A frequent conference speaker and a master at explaining the relevance of Bible prophecy, he was also known for his wisdom and wit. It is a great honor to include him as part of the inaugural class of Revived Classics authors for Dispensational Publishing House.

This article originally appeared in the November 2009 issue of Destiny Newsletter.
Copyright © 2009 Christian Destiny, Inc. All rights reserved.
The article is reprinted here by permission of Christian Destiny.
For more information regarding Christian Destiny, go to www.ChristianDestiny.org.