The debate (or disagreement) began several years ago. It’s because of all my Christmas pillows. I have six or seven (depending on your point of view) scattered around the house (I’ve cut back this year!). One pillow stays out all year. I say it technically ISN’T a Christmas pillow. My husband disagrees.
The pillow in question? Why, it’s the one that says “Joy to the world.”
I can hear you now: “Ellen, that is a pillow to celebrate Christ’s birth, Christmas.”
No. No, it isn’t.
English minister Issac Watts wrote this hymn based on Psalm 98. It was not written as a Christmas carol, as the lyrics don’t reflect Jesus’ virgin birth, but His second coming.
Joy to the world! the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.
Joy to the world! the Saviour reigns;
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.
What if our joy is not for the holiday food, gifts, or sparkling lights this Christmas? What if we focus our joy on The Bread of Life, The Greatest Gift, and The Light of the World? Jesus.
And what if, as my pastor’s wife recently challenged, we have a singular focus on this one thing: Jesus is returning soon! As exiles waiting for Jesus, we can set our minds on things above. We do this by pondering how heaven and nature will sing joyfully at His coming! We focus on Jesus’ return by being in awe of the wonders of His love. We focus on Jesus’ return by ensuring our hearts prepare Him room.
Our King is coming soon to take us home to Him. Joy!
And yes, leave your Joy to the World pillow out all year!
Until He returns,
Want to know more about rejoicing as an exile? Grab a copy of my book, Longing to Belong-Filling the Longings of Our Hearts with the Hope of Home.
