“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And God saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good.” (Genesis 1 & 31) Such a wonderful beginning to the dawn of humankind, but sadly, God’s greatest and most beloved creation corrupted themselves and became separated from their Creator. (See Genesis 2) The result of this stigma has saddled us all with the same separation that has been present since the day we were born. As it is written, “ Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Psalm 51: 5)
Now some may say, “Not me!” Okay, I know it’s a hard pill to swallow but the Bible says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3: 23) and “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned…” (Romans 5: 12 ) So I got news for you, this means you!
But I have some other news for you as well. Some good news, some great news, some spectacular news! We may have been born in sin but there is One who was born that has never sinned. There is One who was born who has never disappointed His Father. There is One who was born that experienced separation from God as though He sinned, not because of what He did but because of what we did. And that One is the beloved Son of the Living God, the prophesied Christ and Messiah, the Savior of the World, and His precious and powerful name is Jesus. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9: 6)
It is an undeniable fact that we have gone our own way, forged our own truth and lived our own life. But that Holy One who was born came to show us for a certainty what is the way, the truth and the life. Some may ask, the way to what? Answer: the way to back God. “…no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” (John 14: 6) Again some may ask, but isn’t the truth what you make it? Answer: NO! Jesus said, “To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth My voice.” (John 18: 37) And again some may ask, but what kind of life are you talking about? Answer: A life that is filled with the love and peace of God both now and forever. “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.” (1 John 5: 11)
No greater description of the mercy and grace of God is more eloquently reflected than that which is in Romans 5: 6 which says, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” This is summation of that which was recorded in the Gospel according to John, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3: 16-17)
This is the true reason for this particular season that we celebrate. This is the reason that every human being can have joy in the midst of tragedy, comfort during times of distress and hope in a glorious future beyond infinity. So wonderful was this event that an angel from heaven came to earth with a supernatural praise team to glorify God with some lowly shepherds because of the miracle which lay in a manger in Bethlehem. “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 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, good will toward men.” (Luke 2: 8-14)
The greatly anticipated birth of Jesus was a fulfillment of prophecy that propelled wise men from the east to come worship Him, filled with excitement and exuberance when they saw His star hovering over His birthplace. “…and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshipped Him…” (Matthew 2: 9-11)
This was the magnificent and first coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. And this coming was divinely designed and perfectly prepared to get us ready for His second glorious coming because His mission was to come to you to ask you to come to Him. As the prophet Amos declared, “prepare to meet thy God...” (Amos 4: 12) So, let us take full advantage of the incredible offer of life that is before us. Come to Jesus and celebrate like the masses during Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Come to Jesus and dance in His presence like David when the Ark of the Covenant was returned to its rightful place. Come to Jesus and rejoice like the Ethiopian eunuch after his baptism in the Gazan desert where he experienced an operation of God under those waters and rose to walk in the newness of life!
The birth of Jesus gives us spectacular hope for a future day when everyone will “…see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” (Luke 21: 27) Let us get right with God and stay right with God so that when that day does come it will be a joyful day. Connecting with God through the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus will ensure that we are ready as He has already said, “Surely I come quickly.” And of course our response should be as John’s when he was on the island of Patmos and wrote, “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 22: 20)
And the holiday message that I proclaim to you, my beloved ones is simply this ...... BE READY. Jesus has made it possible. “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4: 15-18)
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful message.