‘Twas the nightmare before christmas.

‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all thru the earth, every creature was stirring, beneath the sad curse.

Our burdens and sorrows were hung in despair, in hopes a deliverer might someday care.

The orphans lay sleepless all night on their beds, while visions of family eluded their heads.

And I in my sorrow, my friends in their strife had already settled for a meaningless life.

When out in the world there was launched an attack that sent shock waves pushing all hope of life back.

For what to my horrified eyes did appear? But an angel of light and his spirits of fear.

With unnatural motives and morals undone, I knew this must be the Great Evil One.

More rapid than darkness his minions they came, he snarled and commanded while barking their names,

“Now hatred, now sorrow, racism and envy, on violence, on habits, perversion and thievery,
To the midst of each family, on to the church wall, now slash away, bash away, attack one and all!”

And then as all souls blindly let their shields down, into each human life Satan came with a bound.

He spoke not a word as he went straight to his work, causing trouble, depression, and spiritual dearth.

He infected each marriage and village and land, and caused friendships to crumble like castles of sand.

With his work of enslavement and bondage complete, he moved on with the knowledge we’d live in defeat.

And I heard him laugh out as he prowled through the night, “no hope for you in this famine of light.” ~ m.w.

The night before Christmas… it was night. Isaiah 59 describes this spiritual nightmare, but it goes on to reveal what God has done and will do to awake the world from darkness. Isaiah 60 and Isaiah 61 continue this revelation written to the Jewish nation, but also a prophecy of the worldwide salvation that will come.

Light has come. Night is over. The Son has risen and our nightmare has ended.