The story is told that many years ago a minister fell asleep in his study. While sleeping, he dreamed of a world into which Jesus Christ had never come. He walked through his home and found no stockings on the mantle, no Christmas tree or wreaths, no Christ to comfort and cheer his heart. He walked out onto the street and there was no church with its spire pointing heavenward. He walked back into his study and saw there were no longer any books about Christ in his library.
The doorbell rang, and there stood a messenger asking him to rush to the bedside of a dying child, to comfort the young family. When he arrived, he hurried in to reassure them. He said, ‘I have something here that will comfort you all.’ But when he opened his Bible, he found to his horror that it ended at the book of Malachi. There was no Gospel, no account of the coming of Christ to bring hope eternal and salvation for the soul. The minister bowed his head and wept bitterly with the heartbroken family.
Two days later he officiated at the child’s funeral~but he could offer no message of consolation, no word of a glorious resurrection, no heaven waiting above. Only “dust to dust, ashes to ashes,” and one eternal farewell. He realized at length that Christ had not come, and he burst into tears ~ the bitter weeping of hopelessness!
Suddenly he awoke with a start, and a great shout of joy and praise burst from his lips as he heard his choir singing in the church nearby:
“O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold Him, born the King of Angels,
O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.”
Let US rejoice today that He has come!
Have you ever thought about how different YOUR world would be if He had never come?
He makes all the difference in this world! And He can make all the difference in your life!
“If the world had needed education, God would have sent a teacher.
If the world had needed an army, God would have sent a general.
If the world had needed more money, God would have sent a banker.
But since the world needed a Savior, God sent a baby!
And that is the surprise, and the wonder, and ultimately the delight of Christmas. God did what we would never have done, and in so doing, He opened the door to heaven for all of us.”
Have you ever wondered why God didn’t send Jesus Christ to a wealthy family?
Have you ever wondered why Jesus Christ didn’t immediately assume a position of earthly power?
He became poor, that we might become rich.
He became humble, that we might become exalted.
God’s ways of accomplishing His purposes are not ours.
Just think of that tiny bean you planted as a child….In order to grow it had to DIE…it softened, crumbled, fell apart, and the plant emerged victorious!
Looking back over the Word of God, we learn that His mind is infinitely more creative and complex than ours~we never could have come up with such a plan.
Would we have willingly left the glorious surroundings of heaven and wrapped ourselves in the frail coverings of an earthly body?
Would we have been willing to give up all that power and majesty, even for a moment?
This is the wonder of Christmas!
Don’t ever allow the troubled world around you to keep you from marveling at God’s plan!
Don’t allow the hustle and bustle to wear you out and take away the joy of celebration.
Focus on Jesus!
And remember, Jesus Christ came to this earth for YOU.
God knows the needs of your heart and He has a plan for your life that includes getting to know Jesus, the only One who can give you eternal life….the only One who can give you real peace, real joy in the midst of your darkest days.
This is the wonder of Christmas!
Don’t ever allow the troubled world around you to keep you from marveling at God’s plan!
Don’t allow the hustle and bustle to wear you out and take away the joy of celebration.
Focus on Jesus!
And remember, Jesus Christ came to this earth for YOU.
God knows the needs of your heart and He has a plan for your life that includes getting to know Jesus, the only One who can give you eternal life….the only One who can give you real peace, real joy in the midst of your darkest days.
Let us remember the annunciation of the angel,
“Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy
Which shall be to all people
For unto you is born this day in the city of David
A Savior, which is Christ the Lord!”
Luke 2:10, 11
My prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for coming to earth as a tiny baby and living a life of incomparable love, sacrifice, and humility. Thank you for giving up your throne in heaven to walk this earth and to learn what it was like to be human. You love us with an everlasting love, even though You know our sin. I kneel before You and seek You today with all my being. Because of You I have eternal life and hope for the future! I praise You, thank You, and glorify You with all my heart and soul!
Lord Jesus, thank you for coming to earth as a tiny baby and living a life of incomparable love, sacrifice, and humility. Thank you for giving up your throne in heaven to walk this earth and to learn what it was like to be human. You love us with an everlasting love, even though You know our sin. I kneel before You and seek You today with all my being. Because of You I have eternal life and hope for the future! I praise You, thank You, and glorify You with all my heart and soul!
Oh Becky! What a nightmare of a world we’d be living in if Jesus hadn’t come- and yet- most people don’t know the Good News of His coming any longer. Even Christ Followers seem to forget the promise of His presence- the hope for our future- beautiful article- thank you for giving us a glimpse of what our lives would be like if Christ hadn’t come. hugs
Thank you, Cindy! This was so profound for me, and I had to share! Praise Him for coming to earth, for giving His all ~ for us!