By Pastor Scott Adams
Lake Mead Baptist Church
One of the things that I love about our community is when I go to the school Christmas concerts, I don’t hear just “Jingle Bells.” I hear songs that I would hear in church, songs that lift the name of Jesus high. In a world that becomes more and more secular each year, I give thanks for those small interjections of the Holy into our secular world.
I hear these Christmas songs in the stores and see people singing along with them, but I have begun to wonder if people know what they are singing or even if they know who they are singing about. As one who loves Jesus and this community, I deeply want you to know the Jesus that we celebrate at Christmas time, which is the very reason we live in this valley.
Approximately 2000 years ago, the God Almighty, the Alpha and the Omega (Rev 1:8), the One who has no beginning or end, stepped out of heaven, taking on flesh coming to live among us. He was born to a virgin (Isa 7:14), not in a palace, but in a stable. He truly was our Immanuel (Matt 1:23), which means God with us. The King of Kings (Isa 9:6) came to humble beginnings, fulfilling large amounts of prophecy. He was our light and hope who entered into a very dark world (Isa 9:2). He grew up living a perfect life fulfilling God’s law (Matt 5:17-18; Rom 8:3-4; Heb 4:15) and eventually dying in our place (Rom 5:8-11). He took the penalty for our sins and gave us His righteousness so that we could have eternal life (Rom 5:19-21). He truly was the greatest gift ever given to mankind.
This is why we celebrate His birth. He has given us the gift of eternal life and righteousness we did not earn (Phil 3:5-9). Although this is the greatest gift mankind could ever receive, it is not automatic, it is not applied to everyone on earth. The Bible is very clear that you must place your faith in Jesus Christ, on what He did on the cross. You must know you have a sin problem and it is a serious issue (Rom 3:23; Rom 6:23). You must believe that Jesus died on the cross for you, personally (John 3:16; John 10:25-30; John 8:24). Then you must confess Him to the world (Luke 9:26).
This is the Jesus Christ of Christmas carols; the One we celebrate this time of year. It is my prayer and the prayer of Lake Mead Baptist Church that the real Jesus is the one you will seek and find this Christmas.
May His grace, mercy, and love draw you into His Kingdom this Christmas Season. May God bless you all and have a Merry Christ-filled Christmas!
