“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.”
John 3:16 KJV
~~~~~
The
love of God goes beyond all human comprehension!! He created people in his own
image to have fellowship with them. When they yielded to the serpent’s
temptation and disobeyed God - even before they knew that they needed
forgiveness, God promised a Savior who would make forgiveness possible. To the serpent
he said: “I will cause hostility between you and the
woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head,
and you will strike his heel.” Genesis 3:15 This is a prophesy of Satan’s
final destruction and Christ’s sacrifice for our sins.
Another
reference of the coming Savior is made to Abraham in Genesis 22:18 “Through your descendants all the nations of the earth will
be blessed.”
900
years later God said to David: “I will raise up one of
your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong…..Your
house and your kingdom will continue before me
for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.” 2 Samuel 7:12, 16.
Isaiah
9:6,7 sees the coming Savior as clearly as if it had already happened. “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The
government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful
Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and
its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the
throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the
Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!”
The coming of our Savior was not an
afterthought – it was in the Father’s loving heart from all eternity and he
made it happen!
During these days before Christmas as we get
busier and busier with Christmas lists – shopping and baking, may we KEEP LOOKING UP beyond
the tinsel and decorations to the true meaning of the season. God so
loved the world that he gave his only Son ... that we could have everlasting
life. HAVE A BLESSED CHRISTMAS!!!
