Every heart? I can think of a few that have not prepared him room.  That day will be when every knee bows and all tongues confess.

We hear the sounds of Isaiah’s prophecies of a new heaven and new earth which is not afflicted with sin.
The Great Day when the curse of God upon the earth is lifted and it once again produces the way it was intended to.  On that day the “thistles and weeds” of sin and sorrow will no longer grow in us either!

No virgin birth, no shepherds, no Magi, no infant sleeping peacefully under a shining star; Joy to the world is about the Second coming of Christ! The book of Isaiah (and most of scripture!) is littered with prophecy that speaks of a new creation in which JOY bursts forth and accepts the reign of a perfect king that rules with justice and mercy.   This hymn is a glimpse of that beautiful world. Joy to the World fits more with the second coming of Christ than with the first. In fact, Isaac Watts probably didn’t intend for this to be a Christmas carol, but a carol of Christ’s final and perfect coming.

This brilliant Hymn highlights the truth that Jesus fully intends to reign over His new World, with new government (no more political debates!) and new people with new bodies (no more death or decay!) and a perfectly balanced planet (no more natural disasters!).  In this world, all of his creatures, man, animals, and angels and all of his creation, heaven and earth, trees and fields, rivers and oceans will join in one glorious chorus to their Maker.
So should we sing it at Christmas? Maybe Kathleen, our music director should prepare songs that stick to the topic of the season.  You know, Away in the Manger and Silent Night, songs intended to be sung at this time.  

But then again…

We witness in the birth of Christ the beginning of the promises of God to restore His creation.  As Christians--those belonging to Christ--we also know that when God sets out to do something, it happens.  So in a way, it is very appropriate to sing about the Second Coming of Christ during Christmas because we know that with this God-man, Jesus, it is as good as accomplished.  We just look at the rest of the promises of God, and how they, throughout time and generations, have never failed to be accomplished by God.  
True, as creatures who live in a specific time and place we are yet looking forward to the Day when Christ begins his perfect rule over all creation. Until that day, what do we see? War. Violence. Corrupt governments. Pollution. Natural disasters. But we know that our God had his final Word through Jesus’ death and through the power of His empty tomb.  Because of that event, all creation will be renewed. His will for his world is as good as done.  His purposes accomplished. Now we watch as his future unfolds.  And with this sure hope planted deep in our hearts, we are bold to sing about Jesus’ complete victory as if it has already happened.   So we sing. 

As we leave the Christmas season behind and enter into a new year, go ahead and keep singing this Christmas song. May your hope be increased as your voice joins with all of Christ’s redeemed and perfected creation.  Sing it Loud!

And heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing…

Vicar Tim Barone