Joy To The World

Every year I have the intention of focusing on the spiritual significance of the holiday and every year it proves to be a struggle. I never did manage to get an Advent wreath and candles put together this year, but I did rediscover the beauty of a classic Christmas song: Joy to the World.
As you read the lyrics below, try to do so with fresh eyes (meaning do your best not to mentally hum the tune) and think about the message.

Joy to the World
by Isaac Watts

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heav’n and nature sing,
And heav’n and nature sing,
And heav’n, and heav’n, and nature sing.

Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

As I was reading, I couldn't help but notice how much of it applied not only to Christ's first coming at birth, but also His second coming. As monumental as Jesus' birth was, His return will be an equally unparalled event and one of great joy for His followers.

I was reading about redemption the other day and how it is both a present and future reality for God's people. Jesus' birth brought us the possibility of being truely redeemed and His return will usher in the completion of redemption. The Bible speaks of the whole of creation crying out for redemption because since the Fall of man everything exists under the curse. This song seems to give us a picture of what that might be like; heaven, nature, and mankind rejoicing. Joy, blessings, truth, and grace. What a picture! When redemption comes it will reach "far as the curse is found" and that really will bring "joy to the world." Merry Christmas!!