The Wonder Of Heaven

If you look at the world through a child's eyes, you will be filled with wonder. Wonder can be defined as a feeling of surprise caused by something unexpected, beautiful, or unfamiliar. Watch a child at the zoo mesmerized by the animals, while the adults walk by unimpressed. Let a child ride a little train at the zoo, and you would think they are riding the Polar Express. Adults ride cramped thinking about the million other things they need to be doing.

Let a child learn to read. They cannot contain their excitement as they sound out words, sentences and paragraphs. Some children love to read so much they at times reach for books beyond their abilities. Adults can go days, and weeks without finding time to read anything significant for any length of time.

Take a child to the beach, let them see a mountain, take them out in a boat on a lake and a thousand other experiences, and that child will be filled with wonder. Adults take those things for granted far too often. They are not easily stirred or impressed by such things.

Shouldn't we adults keep the sense of wonder in our lives? Shouldn't we walk outside, pause in our hectic schedules to take in the beauty of God's creation? We ought to enjoy all that God has created around us. The squirrel. The sky, clouds, sun and stars at night. We should not take these things for granted.

We should not lose the wonder at all the interesting people around us. We should take time to get to know them, learn from them, give them our full attention and help them when needed.

We are surrounded by information. We ought to be filled with wonder at the prospects of learning continually. We ought to grow our minds. We can do this by listening, watching and reading.

We ought to regain the wonder of worship. Have you ever listened to children sing or watch them dance at a recital. They don't fret over self consciousness. They sing and dance with all their hearts. As we mature, we concern ourselves more with what people think. We hold back in worship. We are afraid we might sing off key. Sadly, our focus can be more on ourselves and others around us than on the One we gather to worship.

We ought to look at Christmas through a child's eyes. To see the birth of our Savior through their eyes. To hear them sing, "Happy birthday Jesus," without feeling silly. To get lost in the wonder of the miracle in the manger. To sing Silent Night, Away In A Manger, Come Let Us Adore Him, along with others from hearts awed in wonder. We celebrate a miracle in the manger.

That is exactly what happened. A miracle came to be born in the manger. How do I mean? First, divinity humbled Himself to be stripped down in the form of a baby. [Phil 2:5-10] How is that possible except a miracle. Jesus, Emmanuel born of the Virgin Mary. [Luke 1:30-38] Immaculate conception. Another miracle. Jesus came as the fulfillment of many prophesies hundreds of years old predicting beforehand the birth of the Messiah. [Is 7:14] Jesus' birth was a miracle indeed.

It's easy to lose sight of that amidst the lights and presents. The focus of Christmas is best seen by saying CHRISTmas. He is the focal point. He is the wonder of heaven. The miracle in the manger. Don't lose the wonder. See Him through the eyes of a child. The wonder of heaven is no longer a baby in a manger. He sits at the right hand of God. He rules and reigns. He is risen. He is coming again. All of that should cause us to wonder even more. To get beside ourselves with excitement.

After all the gifts have been exchanged and the children play with their toys, the wonder of Heaven will still be there. Long after those new toys get tarnished and break, the miracle in the manger will still be Savior. Don't lose the wonder.