Christmas Windows. My favorite. I love to look at all the beautiful displays that creative people design! Some are downright breathtaking, and almost impossible to walk by without stopping to gaze for more than mere moments.
There are two Christmas Windows that have captured my attention and I have never left looking at them, or through them, with longing. I call them Christmas Windows, but Luis and Doris Bush, who named them, and brought them to my attention, just call them Windows.
The first window is the 4/14 Window, and it is named for the ages, 4-14, between which most people decide to follow Jesus. Since these ages, 4-14, encompass most childhood years, this Window represents CHILDREN.
"If I could relive my life, I would devote my entire ministry to reaching children for GOD!" said D L Moody, and I wholeheartedly agree! I never miss an opportunity to share that I was 4 years and 4 months old when I decided to follow Jesus with my whole heart for my whole life!
The second window is the 10/40 Window, and it is named for the latitude lines, between 10-40 degrees north of the Equator, where most of the world's population who have little to no access to the Good News of the Gospel, live. This Window represents UNREACHED People Groups, or simply, Unreached.
Quoting Moody once again, "This lost world will never be reached and brought back to loyalty to GOD, until the children of GOD wake up to the fact that they have a mission in the world. If we are true Christians, we should all be missionaries." Yes! Yes! Yes!
I call both the 414 and 1040 Windows, Children and Unreached, Christmas Windows, because it was for these people that Jesus came. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these." and Jesus said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all peoples (ta ethne), baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
When the season of Christmas is upon us, let your eyes be dazzled by the beauty of every Christmas Window you pass by! It's the most wonderful time of the year! And every day, may the eyes of your heart be captured by the Christmas Windows of Children and Unreached! This is the Kingdom of Heaven, and this is our Calling as the Body of Christ!
