the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ but also, and more importantly, that for which His coming stands: His death on Calvary’s cross for the sal vation of our souls. December 25th may not be the exact date on which our Saviour was bom in the long ago. It was selected, however, because the other months of the year had their own special days of significance in the life of the church. A month was de sired which would be completely dis tinct and set apart for this holy day (from which we get our word "holi day”). The Christian world generally has celebrated this date since about the sixth century. To be sure, the world misuses Christmas. But that is no reason for us not to observe it as a time of contemplation and rejoicing in the realization of what His birth really means. It is the fact which is infinitely more significant than the mere date. The evergreen tree reminds us of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. The feasts enjoyed at Christ- mas-time can speak to Christians of God’s bountiful provisions for our physical necessities. The lights, so prominent at Christmas, can exalt the Saviour Who said, "I am the light of the world." In this regard, the red reminds us of the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, shed on Calvary’s cross. The blue tells of heaven and the glo ries prepared for us there. The gold typifies the streets of heaven and the very throne of God Himself. The green is exemplory of eternal life, and white, the perfect purity of the Lord Jesus Christ. To be sure, Christmas can be what YOU want it to be. May it always be a remembrance of that glad Gospel message proclaimed by the an gels in the long ago, "For unto us is bom,” not a teacher, not an example, not a principle, not a philosopher, and yet all of these, but rather “a Saviour which is Christ the Lord." * * * Some people go into debt trying to keep up with people who are already there. FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS Have you ever stopped to realize 25
CHRIST'S MINISTRY While historians tell us that So crates taught for forty years, Plato for fifty, and Aristotle for forty, yet Jesus Christ’s public ministry lasted for only three. But, without question, those rapidly passing moments in finitely transcend in influence the combined ISO years of the others. Our Saviour painted no pictures and yet the paintings of Raphael, Michelange lo and Leonardo da Vinci all received their inspiration from Him. The Lord wrote no poetry, but Dante, Milton and scores of the world’s great au thors were inspired by Him. Christ composed no music, still Haydn, Han del, Beethoven, Bach, Mendelssohn and scores of .others have reached their highest melodic perfection in hym ns, symphonies and oratorios written to praise God. Yes, every sphere of human greatness has been incomparably enriched by His blessed life. But unquestionably, His most unique contribution to man has been in making possible the salvation of the human soul. This is an accom plished fact by His death on Cal vary’s cross. No art, no literature, no music, only Jesus Christ can brealc the power of sin. Only He can speak and power floods the strengthless soul, giving eternal life to the spiritu ally dead. A t this season of the year, the world admires Christ from afar. Some may adopt Him as an example trying to pattern their lives after His. A few perhaps will even open the door to their hea/rts and invite Him to be their Saviour. But as the poet has written: Though Christ a thousand times in Bethlehem be bom, I f He is not bom in thee, thy soul is still forlorn. * * * A man won't have to back up, if he goes forward on his knees. * * * THE BACKGROUND OF CHRISTMAS This is a wonderful time of the year when we can commemorate not only
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