CHRISTMAS!

I was recently at a clinic accompanying a lady to visit her bedside Dress. While waiting I read the Scriptures to take advantage of the time. It is always good to carry a pocket New Testament for those times. As the wait was long, I got up and I walked around the room, a cozy first floor full of seats with eight office’s doors, with their names on them next to each door, double in this case, that of morning and evening turns for every doctor or nurse. I stand up and walked a little bit and sat in another place, near the entrance door, where was on a large flat screen TV with various functions. In this case apparently had a Christmas presentation.

With beautiful photographs where the first said:

Christmas is to look to the future with optimism.

The second: Christmas is being at home.
The third: Christmas is light.
The fourth: Christmas is love and peace to the world.
The fifth: Christmas is a song.
The sixth: Christmas is peace.

            And last of all the picture one of a Santa Claus.... And I seriously wondered if these people really knew what it means Christmas. Because if it is true that Christmas is all these things, they are also missing the point, for these things come as consequence of something wonderfully supernatural.

Christmas is celebrated by Christians in remembrance of the coming of Jesus into this world as the Savior and Redeemer of our sins. It is the most glorious celebration of a birth that has been ever on Earth which Christians extol because of the prophecies and the words of the angels to the shepherds near Bethlehem. Of the more notable prophecies that Isaiah have the 7:6 "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (God with us)" (see Matt. 1:21-23), and 9:6 "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (see Luk.1: 32, 33). Besides the same prophecy over the village of his birth foretold by Micah 5:2 (see Matt. 2:5, 6), which is the answer that was given to Herod by the chief priests and scribes when he asked in response to the question of the wise men. And with these few verses more than over 300 prophecies that were fulfilled with the coming of Jesus Christ.

But if something showed the blessing of his coming was the appearance of the angel to the shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch by night over their flock. When the glory of the Lord shone around them they were terrified. "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 Savior who is Christ the Lord." Indicating them where and how they would find Him, there appeared a multitude of the heavenly host saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men" (Luke 2:8-14). Extraordinary words from God to mankind for the birth of his blessed Son on earth.

Yes, man has something to celebrate at Christmas: the coming of his Savior to the earth. And it's okay to celebrate, and make gift exchanges, and give them hope with their children, but without forgetting the main thing that must be taught to all mankind is to acknowledge sin, repent, and accept the salvation that God offers us in His beloved Son, Who came to this world to die on the cross of Calvary to pay the price the justice of God required for our sins. This is the message of the Good News of Salvation.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012!