The Real Christmas Story
Just over 2000 years ago in the land of Israel, lived a young girl named Mary….. Now that's what we would normally hear at the start of the Christmas story. What you may not know is that it really begins long before that day. Long ago indeed....
Imagine with me for a moment, a time before Christmas was even known. A time before man, tree, and Earth; nothing existed, only God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. God created Heaven, the pure realm, safe from all things, where God would dwell among His perfect spiritual creations. Those creations know no darkness and suffered in no form because they are where sin cannot exist. They know only the purest form of love and the undiluted power of God.
Then God then created Earth. Earth was different, with a different set of rules than those of Heaven. Man made by God on Earth with one unique difference, free Will that was challengeable. It would be our strength and it would be our weakness. The sin of Satan's revolt cast down upon the Earth. This would be an eternal test for the bearers of free will. Would we following the Creator or the created?
Oh don't you see, long before Mary, long before the wise men, and long before Eve... Christmas was already beginning. When sin entered our hearts through Eve's actions we no longer could stand on our own merits before God. Something had to be done to purify us and to make us honorable guest in Heaven. Thus the Christmas seal was broken.
God promised no more destruction after the great flood of Noah. That means, the world, with no direct interaction from God, could very have well been lost to sin. There was a need and God has a desire to fill that need by sending Jesus Christ to us. The one and only perfect offering that could save the world. The understanding is this- it was our sin that brought movement from Father God. The wrapping is just as important as the present.
God's own Son that He loves with immeasurable love that knows no pain or anger. That knows no envy or hate. It’s a love that we as humans can’t begin to imagine or even dream of feeling. It’s a love so incredibly pure that even death itself cowers from. The gift given to us cannot be understood by those not seeking it. It wasn't the baby Mary birthed into the world. It wasn't the nails driven through flesh into a wooden cross.
The gift given holds a clear direction to the love that God has for all of us. In it was Jesus Christ, his will and his desire to come from Heaven to Earth to save us from our sins through Him in order to serve us unto the Father. So you see Christmas isn’t about trees, lights, snow, candy canes, cards, or presents. It’s in fact quite the opposite. We should be wearing sack cloth and covering our heads with ashes before God. For God sent His only Son to a world that was wicked in all ways to save it through our Lord Jesus Christ. Today we should be humbled in that fact.
Do you really want to Honor Christ this Christmas Day? Then don’t rush to the Christmas tree. Don’t turn on the oven or open the fridge. Don’t pull a coffee cup from the cupboard. Don’t take a shower. Just put on your shoes walk outside before the sun rises and when the first ray of light comes over the horizon fall on your knees and raise your hands to heaven giving praise to Jesus Christ. He blesses those who truly love Him. Now accept the Gift that is given.
ὑπόκρισις – Hypocrite
ὑπόκρισις
ὑπόκρισις. What's that? Hmm that don't look like English does it. Actually, that's a Greek root word that we need to talk about so let's translate that word into modern English. ὑπόκρισις is Hypocrisy.
For the longest time I lived as a Hypocrite. I'd make the effort to portray a Christian on Sunday mornings and talking to people I knew in Church. My life in my home wasn't Christian. Behind closed doors I'd look at pornography and lust after those things . My eyes wasn't only focused on my wife. When I went to work I tried to keep on the outside of "those types" of conversations. But sometimes I would bust in being funny in attempt to stay in the game. Nobody I worked with knew my Christian side just hints of it. I live as a Hypocrite on both sides. As time drew on I fell away from Christ and into the world. I was just another one of the guys doing everything my coworkers and friends did.
When my wife and I went through some difficult times God pulled us through and I thought I was really doing what God wanted then. But no I was still a Hypocrite but a righteous one. I began living a life just like every other Christian. Church as much as I could and started cleaning up my life to their standards. I still fell to sin because I didn't understand Christ in plain truth.
This website is a map on pathway to finding God's truth for us. The more and more I've read and researched the more I can see that I am still a Hypocrite. I can't stand myself to be seen this way.
I am 4 people.
One to my wife and family.
One to my friends and coworkers.
One to my Church.
One to my God.
No more. In the end all these things will fall away except for one. God. I have to live a transparent life. When God sees me standing in front of my wife. When God sees me standing in front of my parents. When God sees me standing in front of my children. When God sees me standing in front of my friends, coworkers, neighbors, strangers, enemies, and all alone. When God sees me standing at the gate of Heaven. I want that person to be the exact same person every moment that God seen me.
We all need to make this same commitment to live a transparent life and not as Hypocrites any longer. I know I've said a lot and tried to guide people to move in Christ way. What I've said isn't wrong it's all truth backed by Christ, I just wasn't living it myself. It is a learning process and I've found another big step to take for myself. From now on when people, no matter who, will not see anyone but the Christ in me.
Walk with me to fight against the lies that try to bind us. A new day comes and the Son rises now!