“A Gift Worth Waiting For”
By Pastor Lee
What kind of gift is this? This is the gift that has come at the right time, in the right person, for the right reason, at the right price. It is what Christmas is truly about; it’s about the gift of life that is presented to the world as a little baby boy born in a manger. Yes, Christmas is about the birth of baby Jesus.
God sends his gift at the right time. Galatians 4:4a says, “But when the right time finally came, God sent his own Son.” The world was looking for a better way of life. The Roman world was ready for a deliverer. The old religions were decaying. Emperor worship did not provide the freedom people wanted. The philosophers of that day spent much time debating everything and finding no meaning in life. New religions invaded the empire but were quickly subdued like the others except for one peculiar Way. The Roman government established roads connecting cities and enabled better communications. Soldiers guarded the citizens. Laws guaranteed citizens’ rights. Their dominance made Greek a common language among many nations in the empire.
The world is still looking for a better way of life. Our world today is ready for a deliverer. Religions can make people good enough to live on earth but not good enough to live in heaven. Idols of all varieties occupy people’s minds, drive their lives, and stir their passions. People tolerate most religions but despise Christianity. How can this be proven?
The federal court has told a state court that it cannot symbolically recognize the God of the Bible as the source of our laws (Ten Commandments display in Alabama). Then another court in Massachusetts has said that the Bible cannot be the source of our morality. Hence the God ordained institution of marriage has been rejected in favor of whatever an individual wants to do. Personal convenience is so valued that a mother can legally choose to abort the right to life of her unborn child made in the image of God. If Christians are not legislating morality, others are surely legislating their own versions of morality!
Not only does the bias exist against Judeo-Christian values, a vocal minority objects to Jesus in particular. A disturbing number of people or groups in America show open hostility to this precious gift from God. Consider a small sample of recent events across this country. A mother is suing the New York City Public (government) School System because it has refused to display her daughter’s Nativity scene even though a Hanukkah menorah and the star and crescent of Islam are shown. A public library in Connecticut has banned five paintings of Jesus not because they were blasphemous or disrespectful or out of concerns for church/state relations but because they were considered ‘inappropriate’ and ‘offensive’. How can portraits of the One who reflects God’s love trouble children? When park officials refused to allow a Christian message to be displayed in Tradewinds Park of Coconut Creek at the Holiday Festival of Lights, Calvary Chapel sued Broward County, successfully defending its right to present the message “Jesus is the reason for the season”.
God sends his Son as the one and only Savior (Galatians 4:4b.) Jesus is the unique representative of God.
Paul is very careful to preserve the balance of divinity and humanity in Jesus. He is God’s Son; he shares the same divine nature of his Father. Though he existed as God before he became a man, he was born of a woman, thus establishing his humanity and preserving his sinlessness. Jesus fulfilled the Law but the Law did not and could not give life or liberty. He did what no other Jewish person could do. He obeyed it completely. He would become the perfect lamb of God but he was also Mary’s little lamb.
Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promise of a Messiah. He is the seed of the woman who will crush the head of the serpent (Gen.3:15). He was born in the predicted town of Bethlehem (Micah5:2), from the line of David of the tribe of Judah. He was the child born of a virgin unto us. He is the mighty God with us. He is the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). He is the Passover Lamb. No wonder why people criticize Mel Gibson for making a moving about the last hours of Jesus’ and the cross.
God redeems man from his sins (Galatians 4:5a). All of us have been held hostage to sin and Satan ever since Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden. But Jesus has paid the price to set man free. The sinless lamb of God willingly gave up his life on the cross to redeem us from our sin. Each of us becomes a son or daughter of God through faith in Christ Jesus. This is the free gift of God to the world. Have you received this gift? Are you willing to share this gift to others who need it just as much as you and I did?
God grants the redeemed rights as sons (Galatians 4:5b). You who have received Christ as Savior are not slaves of God. A slave is born of the flesh. He is not family. He has no rights. He has a guardian. He has no inheritance. He obeys out of fear.
You are a son or daughter of God. You are adopted, first privately thru indwelling of Spirit (4:6; Eph.1:13-14), then publicly thru second coming (1 Pet.1:3-5). You are family. You have freedom. You have an inheritance. You obey out of love. It’s time to grow up. Don’t rely on schools, or government, or the media to teach others about Christ. These obstacles are your opportunities.
How can we turn obstacles to opportunities at Christmas time? Find another place, maybe in front of your home, to display the Nativity scene. When workers fear losing their jobs for simply saying to customers, ‘Merry Christmas,’ you wish ‘Merry Christmas’ to them first. We can assert our rights as citizens but we might be more effective when we show others how well we love one another. We can learn from our heavenly Father’s example of love. He gave his best gift to us. How do we use our material blessings to impact others in a favorable way for Christ? Count our blessings and share these with others.
This gift of salvation is worth the wait. And it’s free for you to give to others!