The Star of Bethlehem

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, December 25, 2015 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Isaiah prophesied, “The Lord Himself shall give you a sign … a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and … call His name Immanuel. …For unto us a child is born … a Son is given … His name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

Micah said, “Bethlehem-Ephratah … out of thee shall He come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel ….”

Isaiah and Micah were God-called prophets, but He used the hired prophet Balaam to tell us a Star would come out of Jacob. That was the star that led the wise men to Jesus at Bethlehem.

Although we celebrate His birth today, He’s no longer in Bethlehem. He’s in Heaven, where some of your loved ones are. Heaven was created by God the same time He created earth. We don’t know when that was, but soon, He created mankind to live on the earth. We, also, know that God existed before He created Heaven and earth.Earth is the designated home for God’s created beings, but the sin of Adam and Eve triggered God’s ages-old plan to open the doors of Heaven, so believers in the Lord Jesus Christ could join him there. So, it’s safe to say Heaven was created for man-kind, too.

We know God lives in Heaven, because God the Father spoke from there, and we know Jesus was standing at God’s right hand, watching as Stephen was stoned to death on earth. We don’t know what was waiting for Stephen in Heaven, but we know Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you … and will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am, there ye may be also.”

So redeemed mankind will be with Jesus in Heaven, where there’s no darkness or extreme heat, no hunger, no thirst, no sorrow, no tears or crying. We’ll rest from our labors and the Lamb of God will lead us to living waters.

So, just as earth is home for God’s mortal creatures, God created a place in Heaven for our immortal home. I don’t know whether the PLACE is a mansion or a tent, but I DO know the Lord Jesus will be there with us! Have a WONDERFUL Christmas! For Georgia Insight I’m Sue Ella Deadwyler, your Capitol correspondent.