Bible Meditations

And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in swaddling cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was not room for them in the inn.

Luke 2:7

Reading this verse, I find myself meditating on the words “no room,” and some very sobering questions arise in the depth of my heart.

Have we really changed from two thousand years ago?

Would it be any different if Jesus were coming to us this Christmas Eve?

Would he be first on our list?

Would he get the best room in the house of our lives?

Is there room for Him today, in the “inn” of our hearts?

Or are we so involved marching at the rhythm of the world around us, with our agenda so very full, that we forget the real reason for the season? How many of us really stop to think about the fact that if Jesus had not come into this world so long ago, there would be no Christmas? I can’t help but notice how the political correctness of today requires that we carefully use substitutes for the word “Christmas” in the media and public places, more and more every day.

I write this two weeks away from Christmas, and the frenzy grows! Even with our slow economy, we can see the frantic display of spontaneous pandemonium as we approach the last days of the year. Somehow, even people who have lost their jobs seem to find not only money, or credit, but the time and energy to obtain that which they think is a “must-have” to enjoy the season. The business world, especially, works to stay “ahead of the game.” Market forces took no chances this year and started the “season” with a blast of offers, long before Thanksgiving. Advertising executives created campaigns that stimulate people to do something they normally would regard as a punishment: getting up at 3:00 in the morning to be first in line when the stores open at 5:00AM!

And so the lucrative, long-awaited Christmas season starts; but Madison Avenue is careful not to offend anyone by calling it “Christmas.” No wonder the word of God says in Psalm 14, “Says the fool in his heart, “There is not God.”

Beloved, don’t you be a fool this year and ignore the obvious: Jesus was born, lived, died and rose again. Why did he become human? To give us the best imaginable gift of all: Life Eternal with Him, endless delights at His side forevermore in a perfect world called heaven. That is the reason he created you in the first place; to have you close to Him and offer you eternal joy. Don’t let anything or anyone steal the greatest gift. Don’t bypass the best deal of all time! He is available to you twenty-four/seven, anytime, anywhere, free of charge! Now that’s a bargain!

Eternal life, real and perfect awaiting you, if you would just ignore the distractions and listen to His voice calling you to Himself. Look up to heaven and realize that although you live here now, you don’t belong here for too long. Your real residence is up there. If you don’t know Him yet, just say this simple prayer, and believe in your heart: “I accept you, Lord Jesus, as my one and only Savior. Please forgive all my sins, and be the Lord of my life. Amen.”

If you said that simple prayer, even if you only said it silently in the chamber of your heart, then now you are God’s child. That means you are entitled to the most awesome inheritance of all: life eternal, joy unspeakable, and an eternity in God’s awesome, mighty and merciful presence. Just imagine living with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, our loving, gracious, and perfect Savior: Jesus the one and only Christ, the Messiah! Amen!