God is amazing. There’s no doubt about it. The reason humans get confused about creation and salvation is that we try to put God’s ways on an equal footing with human ways. That just can’t happen. God’s ways are far above our ways.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9).
It always amazes me when mere humans try to explain things that are from God in human terms. For instance, God clearly states that He created everything. When people tried to figure out how God created everything, they came up with the theory of evolution. That’s unbelievable, but the truth of a loving God who spoke all things into being requires accountability for sin. Satan has always been opposed to God, and his goal is to deceive people. He has not totally succeeded, but it’s so important for Christians to stand firm on God’s truth. We cannot fully understand God’s ways, but that doesn’t mean that Satan’s lies should be accepted.
This time of year, there seems to be a battle. People once sang songs like Silent Night and Hark the Herald Angels Sing in schools and on street corners, but today we’re ashamed to say Merry Christmas, and Satan is running amok. Are you ashamed of God?
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation for every one that believeth; to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16).
Why is it acceptable to sing about Santa Claus and convince our children that he zips around the world on Christmas Eve and gives gifts to good children, but we cannot teach them about Jesus Christ and God’s love? Parents are sad when little Johnny or little Sue start to question Santa’s existence and try hard to keep the children believing in a myth, but aren’t concerned whether or not they believe the truth.
Jesus Christ was born to bring salvation to all who believe. Of course, public schools perpetuate the tall tale of evolution, so children are fully inundated with lies. It would be a much better life for everybody if we weren’t ashamed of teaching our children truth.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:16-17).
That’s truth. Shouldn’t we be more concerned that our children know that? Yes, we should. God loves His creation and gave us the greatest gift of all. He won’t force anyone to accept His free gift of salvation, but you will regret it for eternity if you choose to reject the greatest gift ever given.
When Jesus was born, it was at a time of great persecution for God’s chosen people. The Romans were ruling at the time, and the Jewish people were very oppressed. The prophets of God from ancient times had prophesied a Messiah who would redeem Israel. One of the oldest proclamations of this fact is found in Job.
“For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth” (Job 19:25).
Job had suffered much from Satanic attacks, but his faith in God was unshakable. Job believed God’s truth and would have scoffed at Santa Claus. Don’t think it was simpler back then. There were pagan religions with lots of idol worship, but Job chose to believe the truth. He also did all that he could to teach his children God’s truth. It was up to them to choose faith in God for themselves, but he was an example to them. Did they believe that Hercules flew around on Pegasus to deliver gifts? Probably not, but I’m sure if they did, it wasn’t because Job taught them a lie.
There were many prophecies about the coming Messiah, and the Jewish people were desperate for Him to rescue them from the evil King Herod and the Roman soldiers who were instruments of Satan. They were sure this promised Messiah would be a mighty man of war. What they didn’t expect was a baby born in a manger. Had they paid attention to what God said, rather than what they decided He meant, they would have seen that God’s ways are mysterious and higher than ours.
“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).
Matthew understood and referred to it in his account of Mary being pregnant while still a virgin (see Matthew 1:23). He will return one day as the mighty Warrior and fight for His chosen people. That will happen after the Rapture and after the Great Tribulation. God says it will happen, so believe Him and His mysterious ways.
What is God’s truth about Christmas?
Joseph, Mary’s espoused husband, didn’t understand how she had become pregnant. He knew he wasn’t the father, and to his understanding, she had to have been with another man. God sent Gabriel to explain it to Him. Mary was pregnant with the Son of God. Joseph would be the adoptive father on Earth, which would give Jesus a legitimate claim to the throne of David.
Joseph traced his lineage to King David through King Solomon, while Mary’s lineage came from King David through another son, Nathan. Through Mary, Jesus was fully human, which qualifies Him to be a kinsman of all humanity. Because His father was God, the Holy Spirit, Jesus’ blood was pure and untainted by sin that affects all of mankind. This qualified Him to redeem us from our sin.
The Jewish people were looking for a man to save them from the Roman governors, but God’s plan was the redemption of Gentiles also. Belief is the key to salvation through Jesus, and even Roman soldiers could be saved by faith. It’s not clear to our human minds how this all works, but it’s a fact that must be accepted. Many years later, Jesus told His disciples that He was going away, and they were confused about where He was going and how they could follow.
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me” (John 14:6).
So, if you think you’re good enough or think Jesus was just a nice person, then you need to know the true Jesus. He is King of kings and Lord of lords. He is Messiah, He is our Saviour, He is the only way to live eternally in Heaven.
When Nicodemus came to Jesus to ask questions, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).
You must believe that Jesus is God incarnate. This is God’s mysterious ways, but His ways are perfect.
Joseph and Mary lived in Nazareth, but according to the prophet Micah, the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem. “But thou Bethlehem Ephratah though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting” (Micah 5:2).
God worked it all out. Bethlehem was where King David was born and lived. In the Old Testament, “City of David” refers to Jerusalem, but in the New Testament, it refers to Bethlehem. Either way, God gave all of the land to Israel. Bethlehem is about 6 miles south of Jerusalem. Remember, God’s ways aren’t our ways, but His ways are perfect.
“And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed” (Luke 2:1).
God can use anybody to fulfill His ways, and in this case, it was the pagan tyrant Caesar Augustus. This decree meant that all citizens had to return to “his own city.” Joseph, being of the line of David, had to go to Bethlehem. Mary was very pregnant, but she had to go with him. To human thinking, it would seem that God would have made His Son’s birth easier, but all things were working the way God said they would.
When they arrived in Bethlehem, there were many people there for the census, and the only lodging they could find was in a stable. There may have been some prejudice because Joseph and Mary weren’t married, and Mary was with child.
“And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:6-7).
The King of kings was born in a stable…the perfect Lamb of God. What could be more humble than the Son of God being born in a manger? God is always our example in life, and humility is something we all need to work on.
If people had been paying attention, they would have heard a host of angels singing to announce the birth of Jesus. It was lowly shepherds who first heard the good news of Christ’s birth. An angel made the announcement.
“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, 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 Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11).
There was great joy among the heavenly host. God’s own Son had been born! “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:13-14).
That joy should be in the heart of every Christian today. We need to share that joy with everybody.
The shepherds left their flocks and went to find Jesus. Have you left the ways of the world to find Jesus? There is no better gift for you to receive than God’s free gift of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. The gift is there, and you must accept it in order to receive the full blessing of salvation. God’s ways are mysterious, but perfect. Keep Christmas about Christ.
God bless you all,
Nathele Graham
twotug@embarqmail.com
Recommended prophecy sites:
www.raptureready.com
www.prophecyupdate.com
www.raptureforums.com
All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.
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“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee” (Psalm 122:6).