believing prayer and called upon the Lord. I received Him into my heart and knew in a moment that I had been transformed by God's grace. For the first time, Christmas took on a new dimension. I could understand the prophetic hope of the Old Testament. I realized why the angels sang, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will, among men." We still celebrate Christmas in our home. It is a very festive occa sion. We have an interesting and hard-fast rule that as a Christian home we never exchange a gift or open a present until we have first of all opened up the Word of God together as a family. To come to the true meaning of Christmas is to experience an awakening in our hearts. This alone can dispell the darkness and despair of this pres ent life. It not only brings meaning to the first advent, but also the glory of the second which is the blessed hope of the imminent re turn of Christ (I Thessalonians 4:13- 18). Sometime ago I was taking a course in Chinese history at a large university. We studied about lead ers who had come to power long before Confucius. One in partic ular seemed to have a great in fluence upon the Chinese people down through the centuries. My professor pointed out, "There is no real documentation, however, that this man ever existed." It brought immediately to mind the thought of my Saviour. Knowing I was a minister, the teacher said, "Can you substantiate the fact that Christ lived?" I sent a quick prayer to heaven, "Oh God, if ever you gave David a stone to slay the giant, then help me to destroy this
argument against your word!" With the class listening I replied, "Dr., I will answer your question with a question. What became of Caesar's tax roll? You are aware of the fact that Joseph and Mary went up to the city of Bethlehem at a cer tain season because Caesar Augus tus had made a decree that all the world should be taxed. Professor, you do believe in Him. I know be cause I took a course in Roman history under you last term. Jesus was born in Bethlehem where He was enrolled on Caesar's tax roll. We know that because later in the gospels we read that He sent Peter to find a coin so that they could pay the tax gatherers. Not only that but we find in the journal of the chronicle to the Roman Senate, Pilot had recorded the entire story of the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. This included His death, burial and resurrection. This is pretty strong documentation of the reality of His person." Looking at me in dismay and almost with an ger he declared, "I am not a church historian! Let's go on with the les son." Need I remind you of the authen ticity of the Lord Jesus Christ? It is verified both within the Word of God as well as outside of it. Does Christmas have this meaning to you? Would you be so ungrateful as to reject a gift from the Lord of glory? I am confident that you would receive it joyfully, knowing the love that is behind it. God is giving you personally His only be gotten Son. He has given His all that you might have everything in Him, including the assurance of life everlasting. Receive Him into your heart and make this the great est Christmas season ever experi-
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