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Vital
Issues: The Christ of Christmas By: Daniel
Shutt
Question: Do you know the Christ of Christmas?
Christmas is really a great holiday! The lights, the
snow, the gifts--aren't they fun? The ho-ho-ho's of
adults, the delighted squeals of children; everything
combines to make this the brightest and happiest of all
seasons. The turkey, the carols, the shiny new toys—what
could be better than this!
But what if "He" wasn't invited to this festive
occasion? What if "He" was forgotten in all the bustle
and merriment; sadly left out—ignored—in the rush of
this otherwise joyous time? It was likely just an
accident, an oversight, really, but the cruel injustice
is there just the same. It was "His" day, wasn't it, but
it slipped our minds, and we just never seem to think
about "Him" anymore. And you do know who "He" is, don't
you--the founder and namesake of this happy holiday, the
Christ of Christmas.
So let me ask, when we look around the table this
holiday season, will the most important Guest be there?
The question is tenderly offered, yet urgently pressed:
will there be a place for the Christ of Christmas, the
One from whom all its joys and blessings come? What
place will Jesus have in our hearts, our homes, this
blessed season?
When we turn to the Bible, we find that God has given
His Son the place of honor and significance that truly
belongs to Him. When He came into the world that first
Christmas, three names were given to Him that explain
His greatness and the greatness of His mission in our
troubled world.
"That holy thing that shall be born of thee shall be
called the SON OF GOD" (Luke 1:35).
When we read these magnificent lines, we are reminded
that Bethlehem's lowly child is the God of all eternity.
The child that was born to Mary was no less than the
eternal Son of God. Do you wonder why the angels cried,
"Glory to God!"? Do you understand why the shepherds
fell down and worshiped the child Jesus? Do you
appreciate the gifts of great value, presented by wise
men? They knew what many of us have forgotten: the tiny
child was the promised Christ! What a mystery!
"They shall call his name EMMANUEL, which is 'God
with us'" (Matthew 1:23). These are, perhaps, the three
most incredible words in the English language. "God in
Heaven" we can accept; "God over all" we can
acknowledge. But "God with us"? How can that be?
This is also a great mystery. Who would even think of a
virgin birth, a flawless child, a real man without sin?
Yet all this is true of Christ, and the Scripture
asserts the reality of a perfect man who was fully God,
the Lord Jesus Himself. God has come near and through
His Son has provided the greatest blessing mankind has
ever known.
"Thou shalt call his name JESUS, for he shall save his
people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21).
Here is the authentic and blessed message that God
sends to every heart this Christmas season. It is an
announcement of salvation and hope, a word of
forgiveness and life.
In our time-bound world, eternity seems such a
strange—almost inconceivable—thought. And yet before
time began, there was One who loved us, and determined
to come to be our Savior. He desired that our eternity
(our unending existence after this present life is over)
might be secure and happy, so He personally acted to
make that a reality.
The message of salvation through Jesus Christ focuses on
three key issues:
(1) Man's RUIN because of sin. The Bible plainly says
that "all have sinned and come short of the glory of
God" (Romans 3:23). Without the forgiveness of sin, all
are lost and are permanently barred from Heaven.
(2) God's REMEDY for our sin is His Son, and His death
at Calvary. When Christ died, He fully paid the price
that God's justice demanded, and by rising from the
dead, He proved that God was satisfied with all that He
had done. The blood of Christ "cleanses from all sin" (1
John 1:7); not one charge can ever be laid against those
who are sheltered by His cross.
(3) Our RESPONSIBILITY is to receive the message of
salvation and to rely completely on the Savior. The
Bible says, "He that heareth my word, and believeth on
him that sent me, HATH everlasting life" (John 5:24).
What a wonderful experience this is—to rely on Christ
for salvation, and KNOW that we can be saved and safe
for eternity!
May you give Christ His rightful place this Christmas.
He is the true center of this happy holiday, and for
those who trust Him, He is the center of their lives.
Wouldn't it be wonderful to love and appreciate Him, not
only at Christmas, but every day from now on? |
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