As I thought about this idea of “The Ultimate Christmas Story,” I couldn’t help but think about my own love for good stories. Good stories have a way of pulling the listener into its world. In a good story you feel what the characters feel and experience the raw emotions that the plot dictates. Every story, both good and bad, sends the listener away with some kind of emotional feeling. I personally like stories that send me away feeling good and joyful inside. I’m not a fan of sad endings or unresolved conflicts; instead I like happy endings and clear conflict resolution.

What I love about the Bible is that it is a big, epic story, with a happy ending! Not only that, but it’s a story that all people throughout all of time participate in. The interesting thing about this story is that we know in advance how it ends. If you fast-forward to the book of Revelation you will see that the Bible ends with two major events. (1) God resolves the great conflict that sin brought upon the world. He rights all the wrongs of creation. (2) He throws a great party in celebration of heavens victory.

These two future events will be marked by one overwhelming emotion, and that emotion is JOY. In Revelation 19 we get a glimpse of the great joy associated with the Bible’s happy ending. We read that multitudes upon multitudes are so overwhelmed with joy that four times they shout out “Hallelujah!” Their resounding Hallelujah is so powerful that the heavens shake at the sound of their voices. Revelations 19:6 says it this way: “Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, ‘Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.’”

The great joy of this future day will be so overwhelming that all the sorrow we have ever experienced in this present world will simply vanish. Jesus compares the joy of this future day to the joy of childbirth. He says, “When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.” (John 16:19-24 ESV)

The sorrow that we experience now will be completely overpowered by the joy of this future day. Every doubt, every hurt, every regret, every fear, and every sorrow will disappear at the sight of Jesus. This day will be unlike any other day in our entire existence.

The question is, are you ready for this day? Are you ready to see Jesus? Will you be welcomed into His joy? These are questions only you can answer.

Ricky