Christmas Already?

It's so amazing that time can pass so quickly!  My last post was November 18 and here it is December 6th already!  Christmas will be here before we know it and I was reminded of that because an art forum I belong to is having a Christmas card exchange.  I painted the lion lying down with the lamb to represent the peace of God to come because His son Jesus was born.

Here's the card I painted - watercolor on a pre-cut watercolor card.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although this image and the saying that the lion shall lie down with the lamb has been around for ages, it's not Biblically accurate.  The main Bible verse where this saying came from is Isaiah 11:6 and actually says "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them."

The rest of this prophecy (as pertaining to the animals dwelling together peacefully) says

"7And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

8And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.

9They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."

 

This prophecy refers to the second coming of Christ when he sets up his kingdom for the millennium. In spite of people sending cards at this time of the year proclaiming peace on earth, it won't happen until Jesus returns for this millennium period.  The peace referred to at the time of Jesus' birth was peace between God and man - Jesus is the reconciler, the advocate between God and mankind and is the only path between man and God.  Unfortunately, many people don't believe that.  But, while God wants everyone to be reconciled to Him, he gives everyone a choice.  There will be people who stand before the Judgement Seat of God who will be refused entrance to heaven.  This is not because of any sins they committed - it will be because they refused the One who made payment for those sins, Jesus, the Christ.