Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,
When Heaven was looking for someone who was prepared to welcome the birth of the long-awaited Messiah, no one among the priests or rulers seemed the least bit interested. So far as they were concerned, if the Messiah should never come, they were content so long as their economy was good and Emperor Caesar Augustus kept the peace.
When Joseph and Mary were in the manger in Bethlehem and Jesus was born, the angel was about to go back to heaven with the shameful news that no human being on earth cared. But that would have been tragic! It is true that human beings are sinful and selfish and alienated from God, but there have always been some whose hearts were in tune with Heaven.
Then the angel found the shepherds camping out in the fields by night, talking together under the starlight about God's promises to send the Messiah and praying, "Lord, send Him! We need Him!" The angel was so happy! He could not contain his pent-up joy and told them that the Savior of the world was born in Bethlehem, and they should go and see Him for themselves. They would be welcome! So they said, "Lets go! We must see this great sight!" and they hurried to the town of Bethlehem and found Jesus, the world's Savior, lying in a donkey's feedbox.
Does anyone today care whether Jesus comes soon, or not for a long time if we are having a good economy and peace and fun? Is anyone anywhere fasting and praying about it? Are there young people who are concerned for the latter rain, the loud cry, and the coming of Jesus?
The Bible evidence is quite clear. The shepherds camping in the fields were young. When they heard what the angels said, they didn't say to each other, "Let's wait a few days and maybe we'll go to town and see about this." No way! They said, "Let's go!" as only youth would say it, and they hurried to town (see Luke 2).
The answer to the question is "Yes!" there are young people today who are as seriously concerned about Jesus' second coming as the shepherds were about His first coming. The Bible promise is that "to those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation" (Heb. 9:28). Yes, there are some. Are you among them?
--Robert J. Wieland
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: December 24, 1999.
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