Thought for the Month - December 2007

Now that’s a Christmas present! - By Barry Adair

Christmas presents!

These two little words can cause so much havoc and panic at this time of the year. The jingles on the radio and ads on the television invade our sanity earlier every year and the decorations now go up before Halloween! Anywhere we go, Christmas "cheer" is inescapable. For many people, this is a season they struggle through, wishing it would rush by and be over. It can also be a stressful time, especially for Mums. There is the financial strain of ensuring that money is available for the right presents, the mental strain of entertaining in-laws and out-laws (!) and the whole hustle and bustle that Christmas brings.

So why do we do it?

Lets take a look back to what really is ‘the reason for the season’.

The whole idea of giving presents is based on the presents the infant Jesus received from the wise men. On a side issue, the Bible never mentioned that there were 3 wise men (Magi) present, just that 3 presents were delivered. Also, it is likely that these men were astrologers from Persia (present day Iran) and that Jesus was many months old at this time.

Having held my first born son shortly after his birth, I began to contemplate what the word ‘precious’ really means. And yet, I didn’t even come close in terms of how precious this Infant was to mankind.

Look with me at verse 14 of the first chapter of John…

‘And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth’ John 1:14

We know from other scriptures that the ‘Word’ is the Lord Jesus Christ. I’m told that the Greek word used here for ‘the Word’ is logos, which can be translated as ‘meaning, explanation, purpose’. “Meaning, explanation, purpose” – now that is what we all need a good dose of! It is also a good description of what Jesus offered to a world ignorant of it’s Maker and desperately in need of His direction.  

This must be one of the most precious verses in the whole Bible. I also think that many people miss the true significance of this statement of fact.

The One through whom the world was created, the One who was ‘with God’ and ‘is God’, was present in a way he had never been on earth before. God the Son had ‘put on human flesh’ and entered this sinful world as a baby only to later leave it in agony on a cruel Roman cross. Foretold from the very start of the Bible, the final solution to sin was to demand the physical death of God’s Son.

To come back to our topic of Christmas presents…

We have to thank Jesus for the ultimate present – reconciliation to God!

God’s present to us was His Son.

If we accept who Jesus is and what He did for us and then ask God to forgive us our sins, He will accept us through His own dear Son.

Forgiveness of sins, a home in Heaven and a blissful eternity with Him who created us!

Now that’s a Christmas present!

Are you SURE that you have your place booked in Heaven? Read this if you're not!