Three days until Christmas

Depending on how one views it, as of the date on today’s newspaper, there are at most only three shopping days left until Christmas.

I remember stores posting signs showing the number of shopping days until Christmas as a warning that time and, possibly, inventory was becoming limited. The rush to increase sales and minimize year-end inventory through Christmas shopping is so great that the shopping season starts earlier and earlier every year. This year, because of projected supply-chain issues, we were encouraged to buy early, even at the beginning of summer.

Christmas is now upon us; are you ready? I am, but I also only have to please one person on this Earth, and she makes me look good to others by getting presents for them that come from the both of us.

At any rate, the Bible has many instances where things happened in three days. Some have significance when it comes to Jesus’ birth and time here on earth.

For the first of three examples from the Old Testament, Joseph told Pharaoh’s baker and cupbearer what their fate would be in three days’ time — one would keep his life, and one would lose it (Genesis 40:1-22).

For the second Old Testament example, one of the plagues brought three days of darkness in Egypt, except where God’s people lived (Exodus 10:21-23).

The third example from the Old Testament is when Jonah spent three days and three nights in the great fish after fleeing from God (Jonah 1:1-17).

During his life on Earth, Jesus used the account of Jonah several times to describe his on death, burial and resurrection (Matthew 12:38-40; Mark 8:31-32; 10:32-34). On a side note, but critical to our salvation, the three events of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection are the reason for the Christmas season and are the most important events for Christians to remember (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Galatians 3:1; Romans 6:3-11; Colossians 2:6-13; 3:1-4). While Jesus was on the cross, darkness covered the land for about three hours (Luke 23:44-45). When we’re united with Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection through baptism, we become God’s people and have his light in us so we can see through the darkness of this life into eternal life (Luke 2:1-32; John 1:1-5; 3:16-19; 8:12; 12:44-48; Galatians 3:26-29; 4:6-7; Acts 2:38-39; 2 Corinthians 4:4-7; 1 John 1:5-9).

In John 12:48, which you just read (be sure to read all Scriptures cited to verify what I write: Acts 17:11), Jesus mentioned a last day when he returns and the judgment will take place (Acts 17:30-31; Matthew 24:30-41). We don’t know whether that’ll happen in three seconds or not for three millennia. Jesus described the event as one saved and one left (lost/condemned), much like Pharaoh’s servants, but most people won’t be ready and they won’t be able to flee or hide from God (Luke 23:29-30; Revelation 6:15-17; Psalm 139:7-8).Are you ready for Jesus’ second coming (Hebrews 9:27-28)? There’ll be no warning signs!

Leonard Lauriault is a member of the Church of Christ in Logan who writes about faith for the Quay County Sun. Contact him at [email protected].