The month of December is upon us once again, and with it comes the most well-known holiday of the year, and all the items and desserts and celebrations that accompany it. Christmastime is here, and so is the fruitcake.
Fruitcake has interesting qualities. It's the only cake I find unappetizing, the only cake which doesn't often look like a cake, and the only cake that has the amazing ability to be passed on...from generation to generation. There is a population of the world that likes fruitcakes. I'm just not one of them. One of my favorite terms for the fruitcake is the "gift that keeps on giving". But the fruitcake's ability to be re-gifted over and over without becoming smaller reminds me of something far more pleasant than any fruitcake.
Life can be a real challenge. Governments make mistakes and famine and war continue to cause destruction around the globe, while human beings scramble to look for a fix, whether it be money, humanitarian aid, or political resolutions. None of these however, seems to ever achieve complete success. Meanwhile we work and live every day, attempting to meet deadlines, pay bills, make ends meet, and otherwise live our daily lives, all while interacting with other people. Sometimes things seem hopeless. So we try to cover a feeling of despair with anything we can. We've all done it, regardless of the method (eating, shopping, playing, etc). But after the temporary lift from the hum-drum is over, we find ourselves worse than before. So we repeat the process. It never seems to end. All we really want is hope. Hope that there's more to life and our humanity than everyday life and shallow pleasures. We need to know that someone is in control and loves us. We usually look to our higher-ups for the control (authority figures, parents, politicians) and family or friends for the love. But they all fail us inevitably, and then we find ourselves wondering what to do. Then Christmas comes. But is Christmas more than a series of parties and presents?
The answer to this is yes. Yes, there is more to life than what's right in front of us. Yes, Someone is in control. The problems we're all facing are due to our sin, defined as missing the mark of perfection that that Someone has placed. We've all done it. I'm certainly no exception. No one can claim perfection, and those that do, lie to themselves. But this is where the hope comes in. The Someone (Who I will now call by His proper name of God) is the One Who sees the human condition. He knows your pain, and the things that make you happy, and the fears and hopes that you keep to yourself. He's also acutely aware of your sin, and that is what separates every man, woman, and child from Him.
So what can we do? The answer is twofold. We can't actually do anything, but that's okay, because He already did it. "How?" you might ask. Let's take a look a passage in the Bible, a book which is entirely accurate in everything it ever says.
"Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:26-35 NKJV)
God loves us enough to want to give us a way out of our sin. The problem with our sin is not only that we feel the repercussions on earth, but we also become entirely separated from God, since He never sins. His nature (which is holy, righteous, and utterly perfect) keeps us from being able to be in His presence. To use an imperfect analogy, it would be like placing a dirty diaper in a vat of chocolate. This is not to say that we can corrupt God. It's because of our own corruptness that we cannot be near Him, just as you don't put impurities in chocolate. Romans 3:23 is clear when it says "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,". (NKJV) Here comes the good news. The baby just talked about is God's way of getting us out of this mess. You see, a few hundred years before the conversation just described, a prophet named Isaiah delivered a message from God, which was like many other messages, in that it promised that God would one day send Someone to deliver us from our sin and redeem our condition.
"For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6 NKJV, boldface added)
Did you notice the part where Isaiah said the Child's name would be Mighty God? In other words, God was promising to redeem us Himself, through His own Son.
"And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." (Luke 2:1-7 NKJV)
‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;
For out of you shall come a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”
Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.” When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen 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 exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. (Matthew 2:1-12 NKJV)
Fruitcake has interesting qualities. It's the only cake I find unappetizing, the only cake which doesn't often look like a cake, and the only cake that has the amazing ability to be passed on...from generation to generation. There is a population of the world that likes fruitcakes. I'm just not one of them. One of my favorite terms for the fruitcake is the "gift that keeps on giving". But the fruitcake's ability to be re-gifted over and over without becoming smaller reminds me of something far more pleasant than any fruitcake.
Life can be a real challenge. Governments make mistakes and famine and war continue to cause destruction around the globe, while human beings scramble to look for a fix, whether it be money, humanitarian aid, or political resolutions. None of these however, seems to ever achieve complete success. Meanwhile we work and live every day, attempting to meet deadlines, pay bills, make ends meet, and otherwise live our daily lives, all while interacting with other people. Sometimes things seem hopeless. So we try to cover a feeling of despair with anything we can. We've all done it, regardless of the method (eating, shopping, playing, etc). But after the temporary lift from the hum-drum is over, we find ourselves worse than before. So we repeat the process. It never seems to end. All we really want is hope. Hope that there's more to life and our humanity than everyday life and shallow pleasures. We need to know that someone is in control and loves us. We usually look to our higher-ups for the control (authority figures, parents, politicians) and family or friends for the love. But they all fail us inevitably, and then we find ourselves wondering what to do. Then Christmas comes. But is Christmas more than a series of parties and presents?
The answer to this is yes. Yes, there is more to life than what's right in front of us. Yes, Someone is in control. The problems we're all facing are due to our sin, defined as missing the mark of perfection that that Someone has placed. We've all done it. I'm certainly no exception. No one can claim perfection, and those that do, lie to themselves. But this is where the hope comes in. The Someone (Who I will now call by His proper name of God) is the One Who sees the human condition. He knows your pain, and the things that make you happy, and the fears and hopes that you keep to yourself. He's also acutely aware of your sin, and that is what separates every man, woman, and child from Him.
So what can we do? The answer is twofold. We can't actually do anything, but that's okay, because He already did it. "How?" you might ask. Let's take a look a passage in the Bible, a book which is entirely accurate in everything it ever says.
"Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:26-35 NKJV)
God loves us enough to want to give us a way out of our sin. The problem with our sin is not only that we feel the repercussions on earth, but we also become entirely separated from God, since He never sins. His nature (which is holy, righteous, and utterly perfect) keeps us from being able to be in His presence. To use an imperfect analogy, it would be like placing a dirty diaper in a vat of chocolate. This is not to say that we can corrupt God. It's because of our own corruptness that we cannot be near Him, just as you don't put impurities in chocolate. Romans 3:23 is clear when it says "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,". (NKJV) Here comes the good news. The baby just talked about is God's way of getting us out of this mess. You see, a few hundred years before the conversation just described, a prophet named Isaiah delivered a message from God, which was like many other messages, in that it promised that God would one day send Someone to deliver us from our sin and redeem our condition.
"For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6 NKJV, boldface added)
Did you notice the part where Isaiah said the Child's name would be Mighty God? In other words, God was promising to redeem us Himself, through His own Son.
"And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." (Luke 2:1-7 NKJV)
I think we can safely assume that for all the places that a baby can be born, a stable full of animals (and all the things they do) is not ideal. How much less so when we consider just Who the baby was! God allowed His Son to be born in the most humble of places, when He deserved the highest of honors. Of course, it doesn't seem like much fanfare. But His birth does not go unnoticed.
"Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, 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, goodwill toward men!”
“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. (Luke 2:8-20 NKJV, boldface added)
The birth of the Greatest King was first broadcasted to some of the lowliest in rank and social standing in the nation. Great joy to all people. This means that regardless of who you are, what you've done, where you come from, what rank you have, or what people think of you or label you as, from governors to gangsters, from the most upstanding citizen on earth to the lowest sinner on earth, this joy is for you. And it comes with love, life, freedom, and hope.
But this wasn't all that happened in the days surrounding Jesus' birth.
"Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:
So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:
‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;
For out of you shall come a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”
Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.” When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen 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 exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. (Matthew 2:1-12 NKJV)
What are these gifts? Gold is fairly straightforward, as a gift for a king, it seems quite appropriate. But what are frankincense and myrrh? Well, frankincense is a type of aromatic resin, burned as incense that gives off a fragrance. Myrrh was another fragrant resin often used for burial. This is symbolic since Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice. Here's what I mean.
Back in those days, the way to have one's sins covered was to sacrifice a cow or sheep or other animal, according to the Law established by God through a man named Moses some couple thousand years ago. But while these sacrifices covered sin, they could not obliterate it. God knew this. Since sinners cannot be in fellowship with a Holy God, the only place left for us is unfortunately, hell. It's a real place, not a swear word. And each of us has earned a place there. God doesn't want us there though, and that's why Jesus was born that night. When He grew up, He said "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16 NIV 1984) He gave His life for us on a cross, shedding His blood after being the only Man Who lived His entire life without ever sinning, or missing the mark. Then He did the unthinkable. He rose from the dead on the third day, and while you're here reading this, He's watching you from heaven, not with vindictiveness nor dislike nor disdain, but with love. That's why Christmas is so important. It gives us hope. The birth of Jesus Christ brings us the hope we need. It stands established in spite of all world events, your actions, and anything else that can happen. As the Apostle Paul says in Romans 8:38-39 "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (NKJV)
Christmas is the gift that keeps on giving. Much like a fruitcake, it keeps getting passed on, without ever losing its size or power. The power of the birth of Christ never falters. Perhaps you've never received this gift. Now's your chance. Romans 10:9-13 says "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (NKJV) You don't have to be hopeless. God has made you in His image as a unique one-of-a-kind person, and He never intended for you to go to hell. He wants you to live with Him, and serve Him, and let Him adopt you as one of His children. When your life ends, it will only be the beginning of your everlasting life with Him. If you want this, simply ask. You don't have to pray exactly what I write. It's just a template. But talk to God, and ask Him for the gift He has given. Ask Him for forgiveness from your sin, and ask Him to come into your heart. He'll do it. He loves you.
Dear God, I know I'm a sinner, and I have fallen short of your glory. I've done wrong, and I know my sin deserves punishment. But I believe that You sent Your One and Only Son, Jesus, as the payment for my sins, so that I could have life. Please come into my heart Lord God. I confess my faith in Jesus Christ as my Lord and my Savior. Thank you for giving yourself up for me. I love You, Father. In Jesus Name, Amen.
If you just said this, congratulations! You're free and forgiven, and you've been adopted into God's family! Now you have hope, and just like a fruitcake, it should be passed on! Tell others about what you've been shown by God. You should also get a Bible. A free online one can be found here. Keep on talking to God, too. You now have Him dwelling in you, and He will never leave or forsake you.
Merry Christmas, and Happy Birthday. When you receive Jesus, you receive new life as well. So you can think of this as your first birthday. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 says: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (NKJV)
(NKJV means New King James Version)
(NIV 1984 means New International Version 1984)
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