Important Birth Announcement

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
                                                                                                        (Luke 2:13-14 ESV)

For some reason, for years I had made the assumption that the heavenly host mentioned were just "fellow angels"... Now I finally realize who they were... I bet I'm the last one to see it, and feel bad I hadn't realized it before, but the the heavenly host has to be all those in heaven redeemed by God through faith in what The Messiah would do... In other words, Old Testament believers ... In Hebrews chapter 11 we find: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and list of prophets that the writer refers to but doesn't list by name.. They were persecuted, killed, and distressed in this life, but believed in the promise of the next; "...But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared for them a city." (Hebrews 11:16)  In Hebrews 12:1 we are told that this "cloud of witnesses" is still glorifying God and cheering us on at the same time to finish the race... To do what they did.. Run the race (live your life) by faith... 
The birth announcement that the shepherds received, we receive...   SPECIAL DELIVERY! 
Our deliverance comes through the life, death, and resurrection of our deliverer, Jesus Christ. The baby born in a manger grew to be a man who died on a cross for our sin and rose again. The "good news" that the angel and the heavenly host proclaimed (Luke 2:10) is still being proclaimed over 2,000 years later.. Unto YOU is born a Savior... Christ the Lord. 
                                                           Happy Christmas!