“Fear Not!”

No wonder we put angels all over the place at Christmas!  There’s a lot of angelic activity in the Nativity Story.  From the announcement of John’s birth to Zacharias and Elizabeth, to the Host of Heaven revealing God’s glory to the shepherds, the realm of Heaven came to earth in spectacular ways in those days.   If you have ever wanted to see an angel, you better think about it for a while.  It might not be what you actually want.  Almost every time an angel appears to a person the result is fear.  If you study the Biblical accounts, you’ll note the angel almost always has to say, “Fear Not!”  Why?  J.C. Ryle wrote, “Because of our inward sense of weakness, guilt and corruption.  An inhabitant of Heaven reminds us forcibly of our own imperfection and unfitness to stand before God.”  However, when an Inhabitant of Heaven comes as a Baby, there is no fear.  When God came, He came in the most vulnerable, weak and unassuming way possible—a Baby!  No one has to say “Fear Not,” when they see the Baby Jesus.  Of course, the way He came the first time is very different from the way He will come the next time.  The next time He comes it will be like lightening!  I suggest you get on the right side of Him before that storm.  Because of what He accomplished in the first Advent, it is possible to be thrilled with His return at the Second Advent.  Thrilled is better than scared—think about it.  Merry Christmas 😊.