Imagine the days leading up to the census, as the final day drew nearer the tiny town of Bethlehem began to bulge at its seams, shouting in the crowds grew louder by the hour it would seem, echoing off the shoulders of men and women who were shuffling tired feet and swaying weak arms; and those on the backs of animals were hard pressed to find comfort.
Rome decreed that all people return to their home towns in order that populations be counted. This is to fulfill prophesy that Jesus would be born in the town of David, the town of Bethlehem. Many of us know this original Christmas story but to what extent are we aware of the truth behind the birth of a boy from a virgin named Mary? I believe it is impossible to imagine a perfect being in our minds. Sin that man brought into this world changed God’s “very good” creation into at best a weak reflection. In Genesis God says that even the ground is cursed because of sin and its fruit will bring forth thorns by the sweat of man’s brow. There were no thorns in original creation.
We can try to imagine, the perfect Son of God who left a perfect throne in Heaven, where He had not needs, to be born as man, and be cared for by a woman and a man. While the Israelites longed for the One who would come to redeem them, One they thought would come with power as a King; they were so lost in their waiting that if it were a candle it would have gone out. They never expected the Son of God would come without a shout, without a loud trumpet, without an escort of Heavenly host. They never expected the Son of God to come in peace, to come in poverty, to come by joy of only one couple and of some shepherds from nearby a tiny town. Although it was not truly a silent night. The Heavenly host of angles were celebrating in Heaven and rejoicing of the coming Messiah. On this side of Heaven only a select few shepherds briefly heard angels proclaiming and singing and we can imagine in Bethlehem only sounds of crowds were to be heard.
From a Manger, God would start his redemptive work in the human race. All would be called, all are now called, but few will listen. The pain that God must feel, as He loves all of us more than anyone else can love one another. From that manger, God would offer His only Son as the only perfect Sacrifice for the sins of the world, for all my sins and all your sins, the sins past and the sins future. God would see Jesus on the cross and would impart all of His judgement against all sin onto His only perfect Son – In that moment.
“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. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” John 3:16-18. NIV
This Christmas remember that God gave His only Son who was sacrificed so that our sin debt, your sin and mine, is paid in full. It is a gift that we can never earn but must receive in order to be saved. Saved from what you may ask? Saved from the future wrath of God to come on this world to all those who do not believe in and who do not receive Christ in their hearts. It is very hard to imagine the true love of God that He would give such a gift we can never repay. We are so blessed.
So as I write this it is not too late for you to ask Jesus into your heart right now. There is no promise of tomorrow, Jesus could come for his bride – those set apart from this world in Christ – at any moment. Don’t be left behind. Answer the door that Jesus is knocking on in your life. He is faithful to accept you in any condition you find yourself in. There is no such thing as a person being too sinful for God to make new; that is the deception of satan to hold you back from asking your father into your life.
Do it now, don’t wait for a better time. The time is now. In your car, in the shower, sitting on your couch or busy at work, outside the house inside the house….there is no designated place to ask Jesus into your heart. You don’t have to be in church, you don’t have to be dressed up, and it doesn’t have to be on a Sunday. Now is the place and time.
God Bless
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