The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come

The first time I read The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens I was in the 7th grade. As a 12 year old I had a hard time understanding why the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come had to be so scary. I had a naive idea that the future would be exciting and something to look forward to not feared. Now at 42 years old, I know why.

As an adult I have become well aware of deadlines and how quickly life flies by. This week alone I have asked myself where has the time gone way too many times. As a pastor I have been working on 3 sermons that I will be delivering over the next 7 days, visiting as many homebound and hospitalized members that I can before Christmas, decorating and prepping for Breakfast with Santa, and the list just keeps going on and on. I also have my responsibilities as a father and husband. There are Christmas plans to finalize, gifts to be purchased and wrapped, Christmas parties, and so on. Times goes by so quickly that it can be scary. Then there is also the fragility of life, the past few weeks we have had two memorial services that have reminded me that. I don’t mean to be such a downer with this post, but I just want to describe how easy it is for us to fear the future.

When it came near him, Scrooge bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery. It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible, save one outstretched hand. But for this, it would have been difficult to detach its figure from the night and separate it from the darkness by which it was surrounded.

The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, although scary, allowed Ebenezer Scrooge to see a glimpse of the possible future consequences if he continued to live his life as the mean greedy old miser he was. It gave him good reason to consider change. Imagine the relief he felt when he woke on Christmas morning to realize that there was still time for change.

This Christmas season may we be reminded that the same is true for all of us. Although the future may look scary it can also be the motivation we need to live our lives great. Join us this Sunday for worship at 8:30 and 10:45 AM as we continue this conversation.

In God’s grip,

Pastor Chuck Church