Christmas Song #3 – What Only Christians Can Do At Christmas

Last time, our Christmas carol addressed fighting, warring humanity – be still! and listen to the message of the angels. But this next verse is quite different:

And ye, beneath life’s crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow,
Look now! for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing.
O rest beside the weary road,
And hear the angels sing!

Edmund Hamilton Sears

This verse is addressed to the oppressed and burdened.

We already mentioned that Sears lived not only in a time of wars, but also in a time of great oppression – for example, a time when slavery was being defended and opposed in his country. But he addresses not only slaves, but anyone who is “bending low” beneath the “crushing load” of life. Many of us have felt that load.

So this carol has two recommendations. First – look! Look up! Glad and golden hours are coming. It seems that this is again a command to listen to the angels, because this glad time comes “on the wing”. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!“

Peace in the Jewish mind would be shalom – a truly complete and permanent peace. In some ways, that peace started with the birth of the Messiah, because peace would come through Him (Romans 5:1). But the wars and oppression continued – the Messiah was murdered – and then came “2000 years of wrong”.

But the Messiah’s death actually made a way for us to find peace. Because our biggest problem has always been our broken relationship with the Creator. What else is there to say, if the Creator is our enemy? And yet, for the believer, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31) Nothing can separate us from God’s love, and the glad and golden hours are coming without doubt. As Paul finally said near the end of his life, “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” (2 Timothy 4:18)

And so we are told to “rest beside the weary road, and hear the angels sing”. You may only have a few moments, but take those moments and meditate on the angels’ song, and the peace that God gives through the Lord Jesus to those who trust in Him.

That is true rest.

An atheist may “rest” – but to rest means to ignore the crushing load of life, and most of all to ignore the brevity of life. A fear of the end – and yet, deep down knowing that there must be judgement.

Those following many religions can never truly rest, because their “salvation” lies in what they do or do not do. What if they don’t measure up next year? Am I taking too much time off? Too little? Will I be ready if life ends tomorrow? They are afraid that their ultimate hope lies in themselves, and that they will fail to reach it.

Only a Christian can truly rest this Christmas. Rest, knowing that the work has been done, the price has been paid, and the glad and golden hours are coming. It does not depend on us, it depends on our perfect Saviour. Peace on earth – it is already here, although the world rages against it. But someday it will be complete. Slaves will be free, guns will be silent, tears will be wiped away, and the Creator will reign without rival.

So in spite of the work you have to do, in spite of the struggle you’re facing – rest. Listen to the angels’ song. And know that complete and permanent peace is coming.