Suddenly

We were told that we would be brought to Decision Points, where it would either be one decision or another; no two ways about it. It’s like coming to a two-road turning, not a four-road crossing or a six-road crossing. It is where one either goes right or goes left, or goes up or goes down.

Whether we want these points in our lives at this time or not, during this first week of advent we are being made to face them. These are there to help us; to encourage each one to be truthful about himself or herself and come to the right decision, as each of us is Spirit-led and Spirit-fed.

Here again, is our specially given text. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those with whom his favor rests. Luke 2: 13 – 14.

Believe it or not, our Decision Point is one single word and it is the first word in the text, “suddenly”. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying. From documented events and detail, prior to this sudden happening, we know these facts.

As is the custom, shepherds are out in the fields at night, keeping watch over their flocks. Then Luke tells us this. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. Luke 2: 9. The angel calmed them and began to speak some fantastic Good News to them. The angel is speaking to them and they are paying rapt attention, listening to all the information and instructions being given to them. Suddenly, in the midst of this, a large contingent of heavenly beings descend upon them.

Let’s spend a few moments on the meaning of the word suddenly, as it comes to us. We all know the word suddenly to mean, quickly and unexpectedly. We hear people speaking of not remembering much about accidents because they occurred so suddenly. Suddenly can also mean with a start. You are awakened suddenly from a deep sleep, by someone shouting out your name. We all have, I’m sure, experienced things happen to us suddenly, both wanted and unwanted things. However, this suddenly, is of the unexpected in this sense and understanding.

The weather is good and sunny, lovely weather for the beach or picnicking, for example, when suddenly, there is a bright flash of lightning. That was totally unexpected, however, you braced yourself for the loud thunder. You were expecting thunder, based on the lightning which you just experienced. Here is the point. The lightning came without warning, out of the blue, so to speak. Likewise, the angel came without warning to the shepherds in the fields. You were shocked, but you got over your shock and surprise. So too, the shepherds got over their initial response of fear. You braced yourself for that which accompanies lightning, in our part of the world. You were expecting thunder, so that it would not be as something sudden to you. Or, on a day of clear skies, without any warning whatsoever, the heavens open and rain falls in torrents, non-stop for hours. You know that there will be flooding in your area. You expect the flooding, so that it is nothing that happens suddenly in your mind.

However, this is not the case with the, ‘Suddenly”, the shepherds experienced.

We shall continue tomorrow.