Morning Devotional

December  24, 2005
"Christmas Sermon" (Part 2)          
    by Don Emmitte

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For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His ever expanding, peaceful government will never end. He will rule forever with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David. The passionate commitment of the LORD Almighty will guarantee this! (Isaiah 9:6-7 NLT).

I hope you enjoyed the story about Tommy in yesterday’s devotional. The thought was a little subtle, though I’m sure you will understand more today. It is a strong word about how God came to us. While not abandoned by God, our sinfulness cut us off from him and we were left lost in a world of sin and darkness, doomed for an eternal hell—whatever and wherever that may be—to be forever separated, not only from God, but also from all that is good and all that is loving. However, in his loving mercy, Jesus Christ the eternal Son of God, laid aside his external robes of deity and, clothing himself in a garment of human flesh, stepped out of the glory of Heaven, and came to earth so he could identify with mankind and save us from our despair and eternal lost-ness. He climbed under the bed of our fears and failures and gave us the strength to come out from our hiding.

It is a little strange to me how so many don't realize the terrible plight they are in without God. They have become so accustomed to being under the bed that they believe that’s all there is in life. Some even when they hear a voice crying out to them to come out reason that if God is a God of love, how could he ever send anyone to hell? It's imperative for us to understand that because God is a God of absolute holiness no sin or sinner can ever exist in his presence. It's also important to remember that it isn't God who sends us to hell. If we reject his mercy and his pardon, we send ourselves there.

Furthermore, because God is absolutely just, all sin must be judged—and that judgment is eternal death, which is eternal separation from a holy and just God. Fortunately, however, God is also a God of absolute love and because he loved us, he sent his Son, Jesus, to pay the penalty for our sin, the penalty that God's own justice demanded.

You may not be aware of it but Jesus is calling you to respond to his love and mercy. He has the gift of forgiveness for all your wrongdoing and sinful acts and, with his forgiveness, the gift of eternal life. And like Tommy in Part I, God has been hiding in the shadows patiently waiting for you to reach out and put your hand in his so he can lead you out of your lost-ness into his eternal life.

Why not answer God's call today?