Merry Christmas! · 7:26am Dec 25th, 2020
It is a happy holiday today for it is Christmas! I hope that you are having a good time over there with family and friends even despite the condition of lockdowns in more than a few countries.
However, in this gift-giving time, let's focus on the One after Whom Christmas is named, the baby in the manger that most people celebrate around this time—and the same One Who grew up and lived the perfect life to die on the cross for us.
For we "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23), for He is infinitely and perfectly holy, so when we sin (even little things like a white lie), we end up sinning, and our conscience (though it may be weakened and corrupted) has convicted us of this at least once in our life. Because of God's 100% no-exceptions standard on holiness, He cannot tolerate sin in Heaven, and justice must be served for our sin against God, and so our destiny is eternal punishment in Hell.
But that's not the end of the story! "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)..." (Ephesians 2:4-5). That's why Jesus being born onto this Earth as God in human flesh is a cause of celebration, for beyond the birth, there was His death on the cross, with which He took on our sins and paid the penalty of them all so that we may be saved and become His children. "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23).
Yet how does one receive this gift of salvation? "Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house" (Acts 16:29b-30). You must come to Him in faith, confessing that you've sinned against Him by breaking His law, asking Him for forgiveness, believing that Jesus took your place on the cross and paid the penalty of your sins. From there on out, you will not just have salvation and eternal life, but you will also become a changed person, that you will be more like Jesus and with Him also as your Refuge and Strength ("...for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" [Hebrews 13:5b]).
So come, fulfill the real meaning of Christmas by repentance and faithful belief in the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
Though it’s belated: Merry Christmas. I hope the challenges that this past year brought us will abate somewhat. But I hope also in the Lord regardless.