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.