The Greatest Gift

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” -Acts 4:12

The great prophets of the Old Testament - Joseph, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Daniel, Zachariah, Malachi, Micah, to name a few, each had provided previous Kings and rulers with insight and communication from the Almighty. In 8 B.C. though, four hundred years had passed since the Lord had spoken to them. The children of the Lord felt lost, they cried out to the Lord with no answer. The Priests, Pharisees and Sadducees held true to the Mosaic Law of the time and had created separation between themselves and the children of Israel. The Roman government had stepped in and taken over control of the land of Judea and ruled through taxation and a military fist of oppressive control. Families continued to study the scrolls and read the prophecies of old. There were stories, that had passed down from generation to generation, of personal accounts with the prophets of old.

They were waiting for the Messiah. The one promise God had made that would put an end to their suffering and usher in a world of peace, love and God’s reign on earth once again. I imagine they struggled with unanswered questions, much the way we do today. Why was He taking so long? Why couldn’t He put an end to the oppression and enter them into His peace? Did God abandon them? Where was God in their plight, how could He allow them to be held captive for so long? Two thousand years have passed and not much has changed.

When Christ came, He fulfilled the prophesies, yet they refused to believe. There are those still waiting for God to deliver them from bondage in this world. They are still holding on to the truth of the early scrolls and scriptures of the One that will come and take away their pain. They wait on the Messiah, prophesied so many years ago. They have chosen to refuse the birth of the Jesus Christ of Nazareth as that event. With so much knowledge of the scriptures and prophecies, they were blind to the event as it happened in their very midst. God had stated through Isaiah, that men would be blinded by arrogance, piety and the evil one. We see that fulfilled through the very act of the Pharisees, Sadducees and Priests in the New Testament writings.

So, here we are with our own prophetic writings from John the Apostle in Revelations. Telling us how Christ will return to escort us into eternal paradise with God the Father. How many billions of people will miss it when it happens? So many today have heard the message passed down from generation to generation and told through the scriptures. Yet still, having heard the truth of the scriptures, some refuse to recognize Him as Savior and Lord. Will they stand by when He returns and even in His presence refuse to acknowledge Him? People are being blinded by the evil one once again. It is upon you and me to help them see the light and realize the truth in the scriptures. We can either sit by and allow them to miss His glorious return, or we can step out and share His love with them, that they might also celebrate in eternity with us.
Do you want to make a difference in this world? Take the initiative to share the Christ child with as many as you can. Make it a part of your family tradition to tell the story of His birth, His life, death and resurrection and of His return one day to take us home.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
We come before You filled with love for the lost, the blind and those that are in denial. We ask to be Your voice to them. Give us the courage, wisdom and confidence to speak out on Your behalf as we await the return of the Christ, the Messiah. Let Your light shine through each of us to bring the love, compassion, peace and grace of the Christ child to those we meet and come in contact with. Give us a boldness to stand up for Your word as the plan of redemption and present that to the masses this year. Help those who hear Your word be touched deeply and emotionally drawn to a closer understanding of Your presence. You have given us the Messiah to save us from the evil in this world, let us not refuse His presence once again as in days of old, and let us help them see His truth and glory when He returns. In Your name we pray. - Amen