In one of the ancient prophecies of Christmas, half a millennium before Christ was born, God speaks through a prophet. He literally predicts the city where Jesus will be born. Here's that prophecy; God is speaking through Micah the prophet:
"But you, Bethlehem, though you are little among the thousands of cities of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting." (Micah 5:2)
This is a pretty remarkable prophecy, for three main reasons.
First, it predicts the city: Bethlehem—which is our story for next week.
Second, it predicts His role: a Ruler—our story in two weeks.
But the third reason that makes this remarkable is the one we have to understand today...
The prophet says that Jesus came into this world in a way unlike any other person. For everyone of us, you have a mom, you have a dad, you're born. That's your beginning. That's your starting line.
But not for Jesus. The prophet says, "His goings are from of old, from everlasting." That means that Jesus is the only person whose existence precedes his birthday.
When he was born on Christmas Day, that was not his beginning.
In other words, long before Jesus ever had a home on earth in Bethlehem, he was at home in heaven as God.
And that is the home I would like to talk about today. Because if you really want to understand the WHY behind Christmas, you have to understand where Jesus came from (heaven) and what that means to us.
For those of us who are Christians, we believe that God is everywhere. He fills all of space and time and beyond all the time. However, we also believe that heaven is the place where God makes his presence specially known. And if there is one verse in the Bible that really captures the heart and soul of what it means to be in heaven, I believe it's this one:
"In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." (Psalm 16:11)
If you could bottle that and sell it, how much do you think you could charge?
Perfect joy. Perfect peace. Perfect pleasure. Happiness. Freedom. Love. Goodness. Beauty. Harmony. Fullness. Rest. Fun. Adventure. Honor. Glory. Kindness. Affection. Warmth. Closeness. Power. Reality. Smiles. Feasting. Purpose. And on and on...
Everything a heart could want and even the things you want, but can't yet imagine you want, all of that and so much more is waiting in the presence of God.
And look how long it lasts... forevermore.
That is heaven. And that is where Jesus lived before his first birthday.
I think that most of us get the idea that on Christmas, Jesus was born into a very low condition. No room in the inn. Humble virgin Mary. Laid in a manger. He came to a place that was extremely low.
But I'd like us to really understand that he came from a place that was extremely high. Let's just go to the source and see 6 amazing wonders of heaven.
Breathtaking Beauty
"The wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid with twelve precious stones: the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were made of pearls—each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass." (Revelation 21:19-21)
Ultimate Healing
"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." (Revelation 21:4)
"Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations."(Revelation 22:1-2)
Dazzling Brightness
"I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light." (Revelation 21:22-23)
Transcendent Worship
"And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!" (Revelation 19:6)
Boundless Love
"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." (1 John 3:1-2)
Inexpressible Joy
"...Jesus, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory." (1 Peter 1:8)
That was the world Jesus knew. That was the home Jesus inhabited.
But it's not only that. That is the home you were created for.
In fact, I would say that every longing, every ache, every desire is a memory of that place. It's an echo of the ideal paradise your heart was created for. Realize it or not, it's the place your heart is restless for.
King Solomon wrote that God has put "eternity in our hearts" (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
Today, God is calling you home.
