Are we ready?

I'd be willing to guess that at some point recently you have been asked; "Are you ready for Christmas yet?"  

I'd also be willing to guess that the answer to that question has probably been a quick "no" followed by a sigh.   But why aren't we?  It's because, we don't have all the lights up, The ham hasn't been purchased yet, the gifts aren't all wrapped, let alone purchased.  And come to think of it, we haven't even decorated the tree yet... (Not to mention we probably haven't watched National lampoons Christmas Vacation, Elf, Charlie Brown Christmas or any of a number of Hallmark Christmas movies yet)
Here's the thing, when we think about all those reasons, then we are correct, we really aren't ready for Christmas,  But those aren't the things that make it truly Christmas is it?  (I hope not)

What are we forgetting?

Is celebrating Christ’s coming to earth one of the things that we are actually ready for this Christmas season?  I mean, it is the reason for the holiday. Isn’t it?  When was the last time you saw a news truck at a church talking about the line up at 3 A.M. days before Christmas waiting for the doors to be opened so they learn about the free gift that will last eternal like we do for that television or computer on Black Friday?  When is the last time you had to get in line at a church to get in for a service at all?  Now I’m pretty sure that I can answer for most if not all of you that you never have; But why not?  

Do you ever catch yourself wondering “what happened to the way things used to be?”  Do you remember when businesses and organizations weren’t open on Sundays?  Do you remember when schools used to purposefully not plan stuff for Wednesdays or Sundays because those were church days?   What happened to those days?  What happened to Christ being the central focus?    Honestly, I think it's getting a little worse too.  I even know of churches that are now no longer having Christmas Day services because it's too hard to compete with family Christmas parties (and yes that is a reason that is given more often than you think)  Don't get me wrong, I'm all about spending time with family, it's becoming a lost art, but really...??    Are we less ready because we spend less time getting ready?Have we lost our Holy Expectancy?

What happened?  Are we truly ready to remember Jesus’ first foray into this world?  If we aren't ready for his first coming to the world,  Are we really ready for his second coming? 

Are we being John the Baptist?

Wait, what does John the Baptist have to do with anything?  Well guess what, before Jesus started his earthly ministry he had to be preceded, people had to be "made ready" for his coming.  So how about now?  Are you being John the Baptist?  Are you letting people know about Jesus’ birth?  Do your neighbors know?  Did the person standing next to you in line at 2 A.M. know?  Do all your family members know? 

“A voice of one calling:

“In the desert prepare

The way for the Lord;

make straight in the wilderness

a highway for our God.

Every valley shall be raised up,

Every mountain and hill made low;

The rough ground shall become level,

The rugged places a plain.

And the glory of the LORD will be revealed,

And all mankind together will see it.

For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

                                -Isaiah 40:3-5

This advent season, as we go about lighting the advent candles, remember, that while they all stand for words like Hope, Joy, Christ, etc… One of the other words for the first candle is “Prophecy.”  Because, if we don’t prophecy like John did, how can others have the same Joy and Hope that we have.

My prayer for you, and I hope you pray for me as well is to remember the true focus of Christmas

Are you ready?