ADVENT - DAY 20 - A HEAVENLY LIST

ANTICIPATING GOD IN THE CHRISTMAS SEASON (A Daily Advent Devotional)

Over the next few days till Christmas I would like you to take a journey with me in anticipation.  Let's daily look at the events leading up to the birth of Christ with a sense of anticipation of His arrival into this world and into our lives.  (Inspired by the Book "The Miraculous Journey" by Marty A. Bullis).

Advent - Day 20 - A Heavenly List

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. (Luke 2:1, 2 ESV)

"Census Time!" An emperor's order sends the whole region on the move - back to their hometowns.  It's doing something you don't want to do at the most incovenient time.  It's a disruption of our life.

Caesar Augustus is a man who wants people to obey him. He's trying to control wages, tax lives, draft men and elicit worship.  It didn't matter that Mary was nine months pregnant and that the trip would be difficult and inconvenient.

The irony lies in this - the baby that Mary carried within her womb would never be controled or commanded by Caesar.  He is a person who will never be entered on any roll.  He is, as yet - not even officially named or on any list.  Yet, we've already heard the name that is stored up for Him.  He is someone who will rule and reign all kingdoms someday but yet He is not even on Caesar's list of names yet.

It is significant that this Christ, even as He arrives in the world has His own world, His own list of persons.  His is a list written "from the foundation of the world" (Revelation13:8), affected by no earthly ruler.  Salvation, not control is the hallmark of His roster.  We are on the list.  

Christ enters the world controlling world events, in control of where He will be born, who He will serve, what He will do; and in His mind the knowledge of the holy list.  He has come to take an accounting (His own list) of the entire world.  He is ordering us to our hometown, to His home.  "Census time, your name is written by me in heaven - written before you were ever conceived in the womb.  Find your name on my roster.  And, while you are there - look at all the others."