What greeting would God send to you this Christmas?
Scholars agree that Christ was not born on Dec. 25. To me, the day is not important, but the event is. God stepped into history in a quiet but redeeming way. Jesus was born in Bethlehem so long ago. Through His life of perfect obedience while here on earth, He showed us that it is possible to follow His example in spite of circumstances. He also demonstrated that God’s will, His Ten Commandments, are both fair and reasonable and designed to protect us.
The birth of Jesus, as presented in the Bible, is God’s greatest gift to mankind. “For God so loved the world (that includes you and me) that he gave His unique Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)
Jesus — the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, YHWH, Jehovah, the Prince of Peace — was born as a child in Bethlehem, an event so momentous that history is reckoned in two main time periods, one before the event and one after.
The greeting that God would give to each one of us today, and everyday, is, “I love you and I want you to spend eternity with me. Choose my Son today and make Him Lord of your life now while you still have time.”
Jesus would say, “Allow me to enter into your life this Christmas. I would like you to realize that I came to this world to give my life as an atonement for sin, your sins, on the cross, to save you. Today, I want you to believe this with all your heart.”
Sadly, many will not invite Him to be the focus of their Christmas celebration.
Jesus says, “I will have my own spectacular party. I am making the final arrangements. And when all is ready, I will come again and take you home with me to sit around the banqueting table as we celebrate our future together throughout eternity.
“I am sending you an invitation. I want to know if you will come and dine with me. And I will write your name with golden letters in my guest book. Please reply today so that I can add you to my guest list.”
Remember, today is the day of salvation. Tomorrow may never come.
Ian Cotton is the pastor of the Creston Seventh-day Adventist Church.