Christmas Song #6: Earth and Heaven

I mentioned that James Mont­gom­ery would be considered, by some, a bit of a rebel. The newspaper that he went to work for was the Sheffield Register (Sheffield – in England, east of Manchester). And that became a large part of his life.

The Register was a rare local newspaper that actually printed local news, rather than just reprinting news from London. But it was also known for some views that were radical, or at least reform-oriented. It promoted the abolition of slavery, and religious tolerance.

But politically it was a time of upheaval. The radical aspects of the French Revolution alarmed those in England who were afraid that the same violence would come to their shores. Calls for political reform were rightly or wrongly linked to political movements in France. As arrests began to take place, the editor of the Register fled to Germany.

Montgomery, having been with the paper only two years, took over along with another man, but eventually became the sole editor. He relaunched the paper as the Sheffield Iris, trying to distance it from its more radical roots.

But controversy still followed, and James found himself in prison more than once. The second time, he had written against a militia, who had responded violently to a public protest, resulting in two deaths.

But his Christian perspective came through as he meditated on the Christmas story. God had broken into the course of events of this world, and that changed everything.

Imagine the shepherds, going about their mundane business in the fields – the same as always. Until the angel made the announcement, they didn’t know that God was on earth. Yes, God is omnipresent, He is present everywhere in that sense. But imagine – God had come into time and space in the physical universe, as a baby…

Shepherds, in the field abid­ing,
Watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with us is now re­sid­ing;
Yonder shines the in­fant light:
Come and wor­ship, come and wor­ship,
Worship Christ, the new­born king.

God has come – as an infant? Incredible! Incomprehensible! And yet true. A Baby, worthy of worship, because He is the Eternal King (Isaiah 9:6). Regular work will never be the same, now that God came to reside with us.

And then we enter the mystical academic halls of the magi. Philosophy, all the deep thoughts and knowledge of history, contemplated here. What could cause these men to leave the exclusive place of power and wisdom that they inhabited? (Colossians 2:8)

Sages, leave your con­tem­pla­tions,
Brighter vi­sions beam afar;
Seek the great De­sire of na­tions;
Ye have seen His na­tal star.
Come and wor­ship, come and wor­ship,
Worship Christ, the new­born king.

“Brighter visions” – again, a baby? Yes! And notice once again the worldwide impact of this event that Montgomery sees – Jesus is the Desire of Nations (for more on that term, check out this article). Paul said it this way:

For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

1 Corinthians 1:21-24

There are many things that are important to us – maybe even actually truly important in our lives, our families, our communities. But there comes a time to realize that it is all meaningless unless we start with the Lord Himself, and His entrance into time and space, shown to the world first in Bethlehem.

In your daily mundane works, pause in wonder – God with us! In your important studies, arguments and discussions, take the time to leave them and realize that true wisdom was found by the light of the star, in a manger.

Pause, this Christmas. Pause, to come and worship. And there you will find the greatest Treasure of all.