It’s Christmas time and gift ideas are everywhere. Don’t you just love the TV commercials that show a wife presenting her husband with a brand new car as a gift? What a great present! Yeah. Right. Like THAT’S going to happen. In one commercial, the husband bought his and her new vehicles. A fancy SUV and an expensive pickup. But, just who are they kidding? It be wonderful to be able to shower a loved one with such a lavish gift, would it not? Likewise, receiving a new car for Christmas would make most people’s year. It would mine. As great as that would be, it does not come close to being the greatest gift of all time. What our loving Creator did for us is matchless. He gave something of immeasurable value. A thing of eternal worth… a gift that will not eventually get old and turn to rust. Let us recall what had happened.
The Greatest Need of All Time
We were in deep, deep trouble. The rebellion of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden had placed all humankind in the cold grip of sin. All humans were destined for eternal punishment in hell with Satan and his demon followers. We needed a savior. While sentencing them for their crime, God hinted at a coming deliverer when He said to the devil, And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel – Genesis 3:15. This was the best news ever! The promise of a Messiah who would deal a death-blow to Satan’s power and lordship over mankind. A Savior that would turn fallen humanity from the power of Satan unto God.
Who could He send? It could not be another fallen human. In order to reverse the curse, this Savior would have to be a new Adam. An innocent, perfect man. A descendant of the woman, Eve and an heir of King David. One who could take humankind’s punishment upon himself. Thus, forever freeing humanity – you and me – from eternal damnation. Only one person could do that. God Himself. He would have to become a man, born by virgin birth. Then, He would need to die as payment for our sin. Wow! That is so much more than a new car. Way more valuable than a whole fleet of Rolls Royce automobiles. It would indeed be the greatest gift of all time. Nothing compares. Greater love has no one than this… John 15:13. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son… John 3:15.
The Real Reason for the Season
Christmas is all about remembering and celebrating God’s Gift of His Son. Worldly tradition and commercialism has turned it into a shopping season. A time for children and adults to give and receive gifts for themselves. Getting more attention are Santa, Rudolph, Frosty, Elf on the Shelf, and even the Grinch. Missed by many is the real reason for the Christmas celebration. The hustle and bustle of shopping for and then giving gifts to loved ones is joyful. Moreover, receiving presents on Christmas is always something for which to look forward.
A season of giving and receiving gifts is not a bad thing. Indeed, it would be good if this were a more frequent occurrence. However, let us be ever mindful of the purpose of the Christmas celebration. May the season remind us that the greatest Present ever given was a Boy Child. Wrapped in swaddling cloths, He lay in a manger in a lowly stable in Bethlehem. Immanuel, God with us. Come to save us from our sin that we may have eternal life. Halleluiah! Thank you, Heavenly Father for the Your Gift! There will never be one better.