THE RETURN

The Holy Bible

Time with Jesus - 22 Dec 2013

Hi all,

“Christmas - Humbug!” These unforgettable words of Ebenezer Scrooge are probably the two best remembered words which flowed from the pen of Charles Dickens. (7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) They are Included in his book entitled, “A Christmas Carol”. 

This essentially Christmas story has done the rounds of radio, movies and TV year after year since 1843 when it was first published. It may not be what we would call a “Christian” story. However it contains the very essence of Christianity; forgiving, giving, repentance and reconciliation between men. It is recommended reading for Christians of any age. What is not generally known is that this book “saved” the writing career and perhaps the future of Dickens. I came across the following information on Google – Guardian Liberty Voice written by Cynthia Collins. It is fascinating reading.

A Christmas Carol is about a crotchety, stingy old man named Ebenezer Scrooge who is visited by spirits trying to save him from his “humbug” attitude of Christmas. His bitterness is evident ranging from the way he treats his underpaid clerk, Bob Cratchit, to his dismissal of the poor. The spirits succeed in changing this insensitive miser to a generous and thoughtful person who knows “how to keep Christmas well.” In real life, it was the story of Scrooge who saved Dickens.

Despite Dickens’ literary success, he repeatedly had to take care of his father’s financial problems. Poverty in 19th-century England often meant prison for people who couldn’t pay their debts. His father, a naval clerk, lived beyond the family’s financial resources and was sent to Marshalsea, a debtor’s prison in London. That same year, 1824, 12-year-old Charles had to drop out of school to work in a boot-blacking factory where he labelled pots of “blacking” used for cleaning fireplaces. That feeling of abandonment, of being “so easily cast away at such a young age,” would remain a central theme in his writings.

His father was released from prison after declaring bankruptcy and used an inheritance to pay off his remaining debts. He also got a job as a journalist with the British Press. The family was getting back on their feet and young Dickens returned to school. 

The newspaper failed in 1827 and, at the age of 15, Dickens dropped out of school again to help support the family. This time, he became an apprentice clerk in a law office. He found the legal system self-serving and hypocritical, and remained committed to the distinction between law and justice.

Before Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol, he had already published several novels, short stories and other writings. The themes of poverty and abandonment were especially evident in Oliver Twist (1838). The book exposed orphanages, workhouses and other conditions of the poor in London, making those subjects impossible for people to ignore. After novels like The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (1839) and The Old Curiosity Shop (1841), he was considered a celebrity and outspoken against the injustices of the poor.

He had been on a successful, five-month lecture tour in the United States, but the books he wrote after he returned to England did not generate the interest or sales of his previous ones. His publisher, Chapman and Hall, had advanced him money and reminded him of a new clause in his contract that allowed for a reduction in salary based on slow sales to pay back his debt.

Financial obligations were mounting. He and his wife had four children and another one on the way. His father was selling pieces of paper with the author’s signature to get money and even contacted the publisher directly for a ticket on a Thames riverboat. Dickens was embarrassed and finally put notices in newspapers that the only debts he would be responsible for were his own. The year was 1843, he was 31 years old, disheartened and needed to write something that would save his career.

Dickens had an idea for a Christmas story that would be a ghost story. It would include his feelings of abandonment he’d first experienced in the factory, the grime and greed that were part of England’s Industrial Age, the poverty and hunger of those less fortunate — especially children and his own merriment of Christmas. Ebenezer Scrooge shows his contempt for the poor in statements like, “Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?” Bob Cratchit hardly has any money but has a loving family. Tiny Tim, Cratchit’s crippled little boy, always sees the good in everyone by saying, “God bless us, everyone.”

During the six weeks it took for Dickens to write it, he would take long walks through the London streets observing all classes of people. His publisher, Chapman and Hall, refused to publish it with their own money. The author borrowed the money from friends and paid his publisher to print it. 

He was taking a risk both financially and professionally. Christmas was not a favourable holiday in 1843. The Industrial Revolution had a harshness about it. Child labour resulted in many deaths in factories and unsafe working conditions existed for both children and adults. The celebration of Christmas was frowned on by Puritans due to pagan influences described in carols about wassail and yule logs.

Nevertheless, the first review of A Christmas Carol came out in the Morning Chronicle on Dec. 19, 1843. Charles Mackay, a subeditor of the paper, said Dickens had written “a most appropriate Christmas offering” that hopefully will become something more than “mere amusement”. 

He continued by saying the book was inspired by “a spirit that knows where happiness can exist” and if this spirit could multiply, 1843 would be “a happy Christmas” indeed. Similar reviews followed. The Athenaeum printed that the book would open the reader’s heart “to charity even towards the uncharitable”.

Dickens had 6,000 copies printed at his own expense. Within four days, all 6,000 were sold. Not only did the story of Scrooge revive Christmas traditions in England, but it also saved Dickens’ career and finances. 

Whether it is depicted in books, movies, TV specials or plays, A Christmas Carol has been a part of the Christmas season every year since 1843. The book has never been out of print since Dec. 17, 1843, when it was first published. – Written by Cynthia Collins

What has this to do with the return of Jesus Christ? Look back at life in the Western World in London in the 1800’s so accurately portrayed by Dickens. Now look at the same world in 2013. The difference is extraordinary. Those who lived during Dickens lifetime would scarcely credit the difference. Dickens was one of those who inspired social change. Thank you Mr Dickens for what you wrote.

Today, you and I dwell in a world of injustice and intolerance. We are looking for the return of Jesus Christ. His coming will transform the lives of those who love Him and are expecting Him, far more than we can imagine. They will be infinitely greater than the changes from the 1800’s to today. Jesus will do this unassisted by the press or anyone else. He has already said so in the Book which, by the Holy Spirit, He has authored. 

His will not be a moving piece of fiction imagined and inspired by a talented but very human author. It will be total reality, brought about by the Son of God. Even so, Come Lord Jesus!

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland 

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – 22 Dec 2013			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
©	These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it is for non-commercial Christian purposes					©
INTRODUCTION			DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	THE RETURN
How many more “sleeps” ‘til Christmas? From about three years of age children begin with this question. Usually there is an expression of anticipation and delight on their faces. Their eyes seem to light up with the prospects of the Christmas season. Few sights in life are better than this. By straining my own memory, I can still glimpse and experience again what it was like all those years ago. Most people in the First World have memories of those days. Days that are relived through the lives of children and grandchildren. Days that have gone but will never be forgotten. It’s true that Christmas has been over commercialised. It’s hard to find any shop that isn’t filled with Christmas lights and decorations. Once more, Father Christmas is ubiquitous. Stores are filled with gifts to tempt adults and children alike. It’s hard to resist the temptation and many of us give in and spend far more than we should. In this regard, there is a general expectation that we should give and receive presents. The store owners encourage this and tempt people to spend money they haven’t got, to give a present to recipients who have no need and do not really want. Sadly, many families overcommit themselves to the point where it takes until the end of February before their Christmas debt has been discharged. Those of you who have had experience with Church finances will, no doubt, be familiar with the downturn in church income during January and February. Of course this only applies to those who are unspiritual! A yearly complaint by many sincere Christians centres on the person of Father Christmas. We hear righteous cries of, “It teaches the children to tell lies!” Phyllida and I have discussed this on many occasions. Yes, there is something incongruous about men in funny red suits delivering presents from a snow covered sleigh, drawn by flying reindeer. The connection between the commercialisation of this and the birth of our Lord and Saviour is tenuous, to say the least. Yet there is something touching about a man giving gifts to the undeserving; the idea that people will receive an unmerited gift from a complete stranger in a red suit. We have placated our conscience by remembering that Jesus Christ was a man “dressed” in His own “red”, with blood flowing from His wounds. Wounds that should be ours. He gave the gift of His life to undeserving men and women who had no interest and no love for Him. He didn’t say, “Hoh, Hoh, Hoh! He said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”. He didn’t ride in a sleigh. He was nailed to a cross. He doesn’t come once a year at midnight. 24/7 He stands at the door of our hearts and knocks. He doesn’t come down the chimney. He waits for us to invite Him in. Have you? Jim & Phyllida Strickland			4 They will say, "Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation." 2 Peter 3:4 ESV	Where is the second coming? When will the Lord return? Could it be any moment? My heart within me burns, With such anticipation. To see my Lord at last! To wait another minute, please let the time fly past. How many generations, have longed to be with You? To see You as they worship, that’s what they’ve longed to do. Sound out the final trumpet; come forth that mighty shout. Send forth the Angel army. Let there be no more doubt, That Jesus is triumphant. That He’s the King of Kings. That He will live forever! This truth within us rings! Let all the graves be opened, of those who went before. That all the dead in Jesus will rise and live once more. Your servants who are living; Lord, cause them all to rise. That Christians from all ages will meet You in the skies; In resurrection bodies. Lord, let us be caught up. That with the King of Glory, each one of us will sup. To be with You forever! There is no higher goal, For any of Your people, who serve with heart and soul. Draw near Ye clouds of glory! O Master, take Your place! Let every eye behold You, from all the human race. Elect from every nation, rejoice for He is near, Put away your crying! Wipe away every tear. Join in the celebration. This is our Jubilee! The captives liberated and every slave set free. Be terrified ye sinners. The time at last has come. Let all bow down before You! God’s great and mighty Son. Let every tongue acknowledge, You are the Lord of Lords. Let even those who pierced You receive their just rewards. Those who rejected Jesus; let them begin to mourn; Experience what happens, when Jesus Christ they scorn. Lord, execute Your judgement, upon ungodly folk, The way you deal with people, who say You are a joke. Your grace has brought salvation to those whom You have trained, To disown worldly passions and in Your truth remained. To live a life that’s Godly, upright and self-controlled. Filled with Your deep compassion and with Your love untold. Even so, Come Lord Jesus, Come for Your loving bride. Come for Your humble servants; let us be at Your side. Jim Strickland Written 22nd December 2012
			14 Enoch, who lived in the seventh generation after Adam, prophesied about these people. He said, "Listen! The Lord is coming with countless thousands of His holy ones 15 to execute judgment on the people of the world. He will convict every person of all the ungodly things they have done and for all the insults that ungodly sinners have spoken against Him." Jude 1:14-15 NLT
			7 "Look, he is coming with the clouds," and "every eye will see him, even those who pierced him"; and all peoples on earth "will mourn because of him." So shall it be! Amen. Revelation 1:7 TNIV
			16 For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 NLT
			11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, Titus 2:11-13 ESV