"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth"  Genesis 1:1 ~ What a beautiful beginning! In Colossians 1:16 the bible tells us "For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him." Were we created for Him? God, the creator of the universe? Why??? Because God had a purpose...a purpose that only a Divine Father could ever have. He wanted fellowship with someone...anyone who would want to. God could have created mankind like a mindless robots....only to move or talk or listen or react at his command! But God gave us choice.  He wanted more. He wanted someone who would WILLINGLY CHOOSE to love Him! As a parent don't we much more appreciate knowing our children love and obey us because they want to instead of what we do for them or what they think they're going to get out of it? Of course, we do.. So why shouldn't our Heavenly Father expect as much. He wants us to want and love Him because WE CHOOSE HIM AND WANT TO!! So He makes this perfect plan....creates a perfect place...puts Adam into the picture and even gives him the perfect wife...in a perfect environment...The Garden of Eden. Well, we all know the story of what happened next with the serpent.....the fruit...the tree of knowledge of good and evil and two human beings with their "free will"'. What happens when we choose our own free will? We fall! Well, God in all His glory creating the perfect couple in the perfect environment and because of His holiness and His standards has to do what was necessary..."And the Lord God said unto the serpent......Because you have done this...you are cursed above all cattle...etc." ~"And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed..." Genesis 3:14,15. "In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return." Genesis 3:19 And such was the fall of man ~ banished from the garden of Eden and as mortals we would toil and then die. Yet throughout the the bible God shares His plan of redemption for all of mankind! That's you and me too! And that's the Gospel, the "Good News" Luke 1:27, 28, 30-33, 35 "To a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, "Hail thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee..."Fear not Mary, for thou hast found favor with God. "And, behold , thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David; And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end..."...The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee; therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." So salvation's plan was begun. God chose to send His only Son into the womb of a woman to be born as a human so God incarnate or 'in the flesh' could be made known and real to all those who knew Him. But did they know Him? Did they recognize their Messiah or Savior? Unfortunately not! He lived a life apart from His Father and from the Glory of Eternity Past and Present and chose to die for our sins and become the supreme Sacrifice. You know that story, too, don't you? Yes, He was mocked, ridiculed, spat upon, beaten, stabbed, made to be a "king" with the crown of thorns, and then finally the ultimate price was paid through His crucifixion upon a cross ~ a death only for the worst of criminals. And if that wasn't horrible enough ~ the complete separation from His Father. The Holy God that could not look upon sin. He had to turn His face from the terribly mauled precious face of His Son...because He was to bear the SIN for ALL mankind. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that WHOSOEVER believes in Him should NOT perish but have EVERLASTING LIFE." John 3:16 The Lord Jesus Christ. But this story hasn't ended. Jesus didn't just die for our sins. He rose from the dead to become the first fruits of the resurrection. The hope for us all to come. I Corinthians 15: 3,4 reads, "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures." And I Corinthians 15:20-22 reads, "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that died. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ, shall all be made alive."     This is the real reason for the season! This is the true miracle of Christmas! Celebrating the birth of Christ our Lord and Savior! The only gift that matters is the one given to us freely if we would just choose Him! If you haven't already, ask Jesus to change your life! How? It's really not as hard as you think. So many people make it more difficult than it is saying, "There has to be MORE to it than to just accept that Jesus came to be our substitute...died on the cross, was crucified, buried, and then rose from the dead. Where's the good deeds? I have to do more, don't I?" The answer is "No" "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord SHALL BE SAVED!" Romans 10:13. And, friend, that whosoever is you! Put your name in its place. Don't delay, don't wait another day, don't let another Christmas go by while you miss that special Gift that God sent just to you. He's been knocking and knocking for years at your heart's door. "Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man (or woman) hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to sup with him and he with me. "Rev. 3:20.
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