And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

-Matthew 1:21 (KJV)

“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.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

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.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

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 2:7-14 (KJV)

During Christmas, I join creation to offer my worship to the only Sovereign Potentate of the universe, who was born in a manger to a humble virgin in the Israelite city of Bethlehem over two millennia ago. The narrative of Christmas revolves around the Creator’s profound affection for humanity. Although some perceive it as an implausible tale, and many others deem the gospel of Jesus too extraordinary to be true, the transformative impact on countless lives remains undeniable.

It is unsurprising that discerning minds harbor skepticism, scrutinizing the Jesus narrative with intense fervor instead of accepting it with faith. The doubts expressed by skeptics for over two thousand years however, has not and will never diminish its power. The gospel of Jesus Christ continues to engage, redeem, and profoundly transform lives, yielding evident changes in those who wholeheartedly surrender to His authority.

Significantly, the birth of a Saviour for humanity was an integral part of the Eternal Father’s plan prior to the creation of mankind. The Christmas phenomenon did not originate in the New Testament of the Bible; instead, it represents the culmination of a trajectory with roots that predate the documented ministries of the revered Old Testament prophets. These prophets, divine messengers, foretold the Saviour’s arrival with striking similitudes.

To the Almighty, the past, present, and future are inextricably linked. Through the events in Eden, the reality of Christmas as the Saviour’s birth time is underscored by a profound thread of mercy that permeates humanity’s tumultuous history of inconsistency. Following man’s fall from glory, he became aware of his nakedness, prompting God to provide covering for him through the sacrifice of a lamb, a symbolic act of immense significance.

Initially, God did not intend for humans to be accountable for their actions; instead, He required just faith in his word, while still granting them the power to choose. The sin of disobedience marred human conscience, marking the end of the age of innocence, and subsequently, humans became accountable to God for their actions. Faith has always been the paramount consideration for God, prized for the actions it produces. Even now, He values it above all else from humanity.

Among all of God’s earthly creations, humans uniquely possess a triune nature, deliberately endowed by God for specific purposes. Comprising spirit, soul, and body, humans were designed to commune with God who is a Spirit, intelligently govern the earth according to His instructions, and physically interact with other material creations of God. Contrary to the belief that man came into existence by a chance occurrence, his being, existence and Earthly life was designed by a higher intelligence.

When he made man, the Creator placed a simple demand that covered every moral requirement: Keeping to his one demand was not like adhering to a code of dogmas as religion teaches. It was a simple test of faith, of submission in love through obedience. Man would live forever without pain, heartbreak or misery, just the way God intended. But he must not eat of the fruits of just one tree among the different trees within his reach in the garden of Eden. That was a commandment that only required trust!

In the garden of Eden, the availability of options was open and liberally pronounced. And so also was the test of obedience of such a great import! The forbidden fruit’s tree was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It was the tree of accountability, and eating of it’s fruits would bring man under the burden of responsibility. In order not to yoke himself to the censorship of conscience, man was asked not to do just one thing that required faith- do not eat!

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“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die”

-Genesis 2:16-17 (KJV)

As long as humanity remained distant from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, all would be well. The underlying principle was that mankind could shed the weight of accountability for its actions by binding itself to God through simple faith in divine decrees. This straightforward approach represented a life of innocence ordained by God for humanity, characterized by uncomplicated faith and reliance on God’s wisdom, love, and guidance. That was the original plan.

The relationship between God and humanity progressed smoothly for a period until a pivotal moment when a third entity intervened. Satan, the adversary, with cunning and deception, inserted himself into the dynamic, harboring malicious intentions. Seeking to disrupt the harmonious relationship, the enemy targeted the more susceptible party, where he anticipated success. And his success led to devastating consequences.

The malevolent entity induced humanity to question God’s command and disobey it, exercising the free will granted by God. Humanity overstepped the boundaries of trust and faith, doubting God for the first time, disobeying Him, and consequently losing innocence. As a result, humanity became accountable for its actions and became aware of its vulnerability. This marked the onset of suffering, violence, and mortality. Assuming responsibility for actions was an unprepared-for development for humanity. In accordance with God’s impartial justice, humanity would atone for its transgressions with its own life.

Despite Satan’s successful deception that led mankind astray, he ultimately failed to achieve his primary objective of turning God against humanity. God’s nature is love, and instead of annihilating mankind instantly due to sin, He opted to transform humanity’s sin-induced destitution into an opportunity. He chose to utilize humanity’s fall to demonstrate the vastness of His love and kindness. At a point when all hope seemed lost for humanity, and the human race was destined for eternal spiritual death, separated from God’s glorious presence, the Almighty Father, driven by love, devised a redemption plan through the ‘Lamb of God,’ the Jesus plan.

The plan of redemption through Jesus Christ was a concept God had meticulously devised and nurtured since the inception of creation. This plan entails God’s selfless act, through which He became human via incarnation to rescue humanity from self-destruction. Divine justice necessitated eternal damnation for humanity, yet God’s mercy yearned for humanity’s survival. Humanity’s demise would not only signify Satan’s triumph and the prevalence of evil but also severely impede God’s eternal purpose. With sin having tainted and rendered humanity’s offerings unfit for atonement, their fate appeared irreversible.

Humanity’s predicament was insurmountable, yet God intervened, providing the singular sacrifice capable of permanently atoning for sin and its consequences. Angels, lacking blood, were unsuitable for the task, and even if incarnated, their fidelity could not be guaranteed when faced with temptation. Only the Son, as God Himself, could perfectly fulfill the Father’s desires. Thus, God chose to rectify the situation through His Son, whose divine word took human form and prevailed.

“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 (KJV)

The narrative of salvation is not a topic for debate. The precise date of Christ’s birth should not overshadow the significance of the event to the point of ridicule. More crucial is the fact that God demonstrated unparalleled love by incarnating and sacrificing himself for humanity’s sake. The enduring patience of God in the face of human transgressions until the arrival of Christ is a matter that ought to draw us nearer to the Father. Furthermore, rejecting the love embodied by Jesus Christ is a grave mistake, and the urgency of accepting the offered salvation cannot be overstated.

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”

-Romans 5:12 (KJV)

” For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” -Romans 6:23 (KJV)

Let the world honor Jesus during Christmas and every day, for He deserves reverence as the conqueror of humanity’s greatest foe, achieved without military might. His sinless life culminated in a worthy sacrifice, and His resurrection into eternal life serves as justification for humanity. Through His sacrifice, humanity is saved from the dire consequences of sin. With compassion, He extends an invitation to eternal life to all, contingent upon acknowledgment of one’s sinful nature, belief in Jesus Christ as Savior, and confession of Him as personal Redeemer to avoid eternal death, thereby restoring faith in God as it was in Eden.

Individuals who accept Jesus Christ as the Saviour of the world transition from spiritual death to eternal life. By receiving Him, you have avoided God’s righteous judgement. I extend Christmas greetings to you and felicitations at all times! However, if you have not yet accepted Jesus Christ into your life, I strongly advise you to do so without delay. Procrastination may pose significant risks, as death is not only inevitable but also largely unpredictable. Let us celebrate this festive season with caution. Merry Christmas!