Joy To The World Series

Back in the 1700s, there was a man who wrote hymns… a lot of hymns (nearly 750 songs during his lifetime). He was a very famous and popular song writer in his day – and his name was Isaac Watts. He wrote a several songs that are still being sung today and we’re going to sing a few of them… a little bit of a songfest this morning:

• "At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light, and the burden of my heart rolled away. It was there by faith I received my sight, and now I am happy all the day!"

• "I sing the mighty pow’r of God, that made the mountains rise, that spread the flowing seas abroad, and built the lofty skies. I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day; the moon shines full at His command, and all the stars obey."

And one of his songs was so popular… that a modern group gave it new chorus:

• When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, on which the Prince of glory died. My richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride. (Chorus) O the wonderful cross. O the wonderful cross. Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live. Oh the wonderful Cross, oh the wonderful Cross. All who gather here, by grace draw near and bless Your name."

ISAAC WATTS WROTE THOSE SONGS, and of course, he also wrote one of the most famous Christmas carols of all time – “Joy To The World.”

"Joy to the world, the Lord is come, let Earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare Him room. And Heaven and nature sing; And Heaven and nature sing, and Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing."

It seems that every church sings that Christmas Carol at Christmas. But there’s one small glitch with that practice. Isaac Watts didn’t write “Joy To The World” to glorify the birth of Christ. No, he wrote that song to glorify the DAY that will Jesus returns to earth. IT’S CALLED THE 2ND COMING.

Notice some of the words in that song: "Joy to the world, the Lord is come - Let earth receive her King." "Joy to the World, the Savior reigns – let men their songs employ." "He rules the world with truth and grace."

When Jesus came the 1st time - when He was born - He was born to die for the world, but when He comes again He will return to RULE OVER the world - to Reign as KING!!!!

ILLUS: Several years ago, Billy Graham was a guest on Johnny Carson (a talk show of the day). At one point there was a lull in the conversation and Johnny said, “You know what Billy, I bet if Jesus ever came back to earth, I bet we’d do him in again!” Billy Graham leaned forward in his seat, and said, “In the Bible we read that Jesus predicted that He would return to earth again. But the first time He came in love. The next time, He’ll come in power. And no one will DO Him in!”

ILLUS: In the 2nd coming God will invade. When that happens, it’s over. It will be the end of the world. When the author of a play walks on to the stage, the play is over.” (a variation on a quote by C.S. Lewis)

But Isaac Watts looked forward to the 2nd coming with a Joyful Expectation. That’s why he wrote joy to the world, the Lord is come, let earth receive her king! And he got his inspiration from Psalm 98:4-9. I want you to notice how many times that passage speaks of JOY:

“Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody! With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD! Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it! Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.”

So, Jesus will come as a KING and He will come to JUDGE the earth. We’re told, to let there be “Joy to the world the savior reigns, let men their songs employ!”

Oddly enough though, not everybody seems excited about Jesus coming back! Some folks they don’t want Jesus to come back because when He does return, He’ll return to judge them. Lots of people like living the way they live, and so they DENY that He’ll come back. And if Jesus doesn’t come back… He can’t tell them their living wrong lives. And if He doesn’t pass judgement on their sins, they can go on living like they always have. They use the same reasoning men use for not going to a doctor. If I don’t go to the Doctor… he won’t be able to tell me I’m sick. And if the Doctor doesn’t get to tell me I’m sick then I can go on pretending that I’m NOT sick.