Billy and Laurel Long
P.O. Box 147, Longs, SC 29568
www.billylongministries.com Laurel and I are grateful for our friends and loved ones. We pray you all will have a Christmas season filled with the Lord's love, peace, and joy. May HE give special grace and visit you with His presence.
Grace and peace to you all.
Billy and Laurel Long
Holy, But Not Silent
Some of the most amazing glimpses into the spiritual realm and manifestations of God’s intimate involvement with His people are seen in the Christmas story. The angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias (father of John the Baptist), to Joseph, and to Mary. The heavens opened causing shepherds to tremble as they saw and heard a multitude of angels praising God with a roar equivalent to Niagara Falls. John the Baptist’s mother Elizabeth conceived him in her old age. Jesus was supernaturally placed in Mary’s womb by the Holy Spirit. Joseph and Mary were led by angelic visitations and by the Holy Spirit to go to Egypt and were told when to return to Nazareth.
These and other amazing and marvelous things happened around the birth of Jesus. But the yearly and routine presentation of those experiences in church Christmas plays and manger scenes has tended to inoculate Christians to the reality and awesomeness of what actually happened. The Bible verses describing the events are usually relegated to the Christmas season and are treated as out of place during the rest of the year. We tend to envision people wearing costumes at the holiday manger scene in the church Christmas play rather bringing to mind the reality and awesomeness of the glorious realities experienced by those who lived it over 2000 years ago.
The night was holy, but it was not silent. It was not a church Christmas play; it was a drama of intense proportions. Voices were heard in the full range of emotions. There were praises, prayers, weeping, grief, and joy. We should not be oblivious to the spiritual warfare and struggles that accompanied the event. How difficult it must have been for Mary to explain her “out-of wedlock” condition in a culture where it was frowned upon. What grief, pain, and perplexity must have overwhelmed the weeping mothers in Bethlehem when Herod slew their innocent babies.
There is peace and joy when we know the Lord and walk with Him. But when heaven lifts the veil, reveals itself, and interacts with us, it often brings intensity and the realities of the spiritual warfare that is taking place on earth. We experience the wonders of fellowship with Almighty God. But we also draw the attention of the enemy of our souls who resists us and God’s work. This often brings tension, intensity, and sometimes conflict.
The disciples and the apostle Paul witnessed the manifested glory of God. They interacted with heaven and saw glimpses of it. But they were soldiers in the kingdom of God. Their lives were laid down to serve the Lord, His kingdom, and His purpose. The visions were wonderful, but God’s visitation into their lives did not make life easier, but enabled and strengthened them to fight the good fight. Timothy was told to “war a good warfare by the prophecies” that were given him by the elders. Peter tells us to “arm ourselves with a mind to suffer” for the Lord’s sake. When God visits and speaks to you, it does not necessarily follow that you will experience flowery beds of ease. It probably means you should gird up your loins and be prepared to be strong, endure, and persevere.
The Christmas story is a microcosm of the Christian life itself. We see humanity, we see Divine intervention and the light of His glory accompanied by great joy and love. But we also see evidence of the darkness that resists God’s visitation. That resistance would like to remove Christ from Christmas and make it to be about Santa Clause, jingle bells, and warm, mushy good feelings, with a shallow attempt at a fleeting “love your fellow man” feeling, but devoid of Jesus Christ the true meaning of the season and the source of real love.
Stevie Nix the lead singer of Fleetwood Mac has her own version of Silent Night on the radio this season. It is a beautiful arrangement. At first I was impressed, but then realized a couple of major and subtle changes. In the original song one verse ends with “Christ the Saviour is born.” A second verse ends with “Jesus Lord at Thy birth.” In the Stevie Nix version both of these endings are deleted and replaced with “It was a silent night, It was a holy night.” As I stated earlier, it was not a silent night, but it was holy. Also, it has meaning only in Jesus. The story, the songs, and all the talk about love are empty and shallow without Jesus. The true Christmas story is summed up in these words from scripture:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.
Herod could not destroy the babe. The devil and the kings of the earth could not destroy the Lamb slain for our sins. He is now the risen Lord of Lords and King of kings who will rule until all His enemies are made a footstool about His feet. Isaiah’s words are true:
“For unto us a child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
And upon the throne of David and over His kingdom.” Isaiah 9:6-7 | 
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