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This week we once again celebrate the wonderful Christmas story of God taking on flesh, being born in a humble setting in a rather insignificant town called Bethlehem. Unfortunately, there are many in the world and children growing up here in Canada who have yet to hear this story. 

Paul Harvey was an American radio broadcaster who for over thirty-three years broadcast a short item called “The rest of the story”. The story would open with some details about a person or situation. But the story would always have an unusual twist. After a commercial Paul would explain the twist which was: “The rest of the story”.

The first Christmas was indeed an unusual and miraculous story. But it was not the whole story. It was the first earthly step toward the completion of God’s good plan.

The rest of the story must include the horrible death of Jesus on a cross as the penalty for our sin. It must include his resurrection as evidence of his victory over death. It must include the ascension.  And it will be complete with the opening of the lamb’s book of life and the welcoming home of all whose names are found therein.

Paul’s own story has an interesting twist as well as printed in The Christian Index: At the zenith of Harvey’s popularity and prosperity, a restlessness within his spirit nudged him toward the God of his upbringing. Leaving Chicago for a needed vacation in Arizona, Harvey tells the story of driving up a mountain road on Sunday morning to visit a country church in a hilltop clearing. He said, He grew up going to church. He was reminded of clinging to his favorite Bible verse of John 3:16 through the years, but he realized that he had never done what the Lord Jesus commands all new believers to do. Harvey realized that he had never taken that step of obedience in following Jesus in believer’s baptism.  As the service drew to a close, and as the pianist plinked out a familiar hymn, the country preacher’s closing invitation to the small gathering was to yield themselves totally to Christ. Paul Harvey found himself stepping into the aisle and walking forward with a desire to be fully obedient to Christ. A new joy invaded the daily routine of deadlines and headlines in Harvey’s world. With one of the most powerful microphones in the free world before him each day, his humbling step of public baptism seemed to free him up to be more vocal about his Christian faith.

So let’s celebrate the Christmas story not forgetting the rest of the story!

              Pastor Dave