God’s appointed season Week 52,2015

Why did it take so long for Jesus to be born into this world to save us from sin? It had been centuries since the promise was made at the garden of Eden. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel." Gen 3:15 (NASU) Finally the promised messiah was born.

Could it be that God, wanting a way to save man, was trying things out different things to see what would work? Innocence had failed in the garden of Eden. Conscience failed in the time of Noah. Patriarchs were unable to do the saving act. The law was powerless to change the heart of any man. Prophets brought no transformation. Was Jesus a last resort? An afterthought in (seeming) desperation when all else failed? No. By no means. Consider this: All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast — all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world Rev 13:8 (NIV). Since the foundation of the world it had been determined the lamb would be slain for us! So it was no afterthought. And the delay was by no means reluctance on God’s part to send His son, or the son to suffer for scripture records the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, and at his appointed season he brought his word to lightTit1:2-3(NIV). This was God’s appointed season; this IS God’s appointed time. A time of deep darkness, a time everything seemed to have gone upside down. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly Rom 5:6 (NIV).

All those events were really filling the gap, pointing us to the one who was to come. What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith Gal 3:19, 24(NIV). All the others bear witness to Him. But in our time something new has been added. What Moses and the prophets witnessed to all those years has happened Rom 3:21(THE MESSAGE). God is the master artist and the Lord over all things. He has always been fully in control. He was in control when creation began, He remained in control in the midst of Satan’s rebellion and mankind’s fall from grace. He will remain in control forever. What He says will happen. It will happen at the time He has set for it. Every word I've spoken to you will come true on time — God's time Lk 1:20 (THE MESSAGE).

Has God made a promise to you? Know that it must surely come to pass; it will be fulfilled. And if it appears you are increasingly helpless and things are getting worse and turning upside down just remember that things were like that to men when Jesus stepped into the fray.

The virgin birth week 51, 2015

We have technology now for several decades that makes a woman conceive and get pregnant without sexual intercourse. That’s achievable and has brought smiles to many a couple. But that cannot explain the virgin birth since the egg still has to interact with the male seed for fertilisation to happen.

It has been shown a baby can come without a male seed. Cloning of animals has been done, and human clones almost certainly exist. Reports of human clones are available. Again the virgin birth cannot be the same. Mary could have a clone of herself born in form of a baby girl. A male clone has to have a male input!

So how do we explain Jesus’ conception? Nothing like it has ever happened before, or after. Mary said to the angel, "I am a virgin. How, then, can this be?" The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and God's power will rest upon you. For this reason the holy child will be called the Son of God.” Lk 1:34-35(GNB)  If the story is to be believed then Jesus is indeed divine. This is why people reject Christmas; for if Jesus is divine then we must not only listen to Him we must obey Him. Since He is divine there are rules he sets we must adhere to. Happily the story is true. The records are there, having been put down by a scientist - yes a doctor - after diligent research. And so, Your Excellency, because I have carefully studied all these matters from their beginning, I thought it would be good to write an orderly account for you. I do this so that you will know the full truth about everything which you have been taught Lk 1:3-4(GNB). Mary indeed conceived and bare a divine child without sexual relations. The immortal God took upon Himself the mortal frame of humanity. The eternal God was born a man child on a specific date. At that time Emperor Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Roman Empire. When this first census took place, Quirinius was the governor of Syria Lk 2:1-2(GNB)  It came to pass in a given location "As for you, Bethlehem of Ephrathah, even though you remain least among the clans of Judah, nevertheless, the one who rules in Israel for me will emerge from you. His existence has been from antiquity, even from eternity” Mic 5:2(ISV).

And why all this? What was so important God had to come personally to do it? What task could not be delegated to angels who had passed on the law to Moses? Did Jesus come just to prove a point? Was it to show us an example, and teach us the way? She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he is the one who will save his people from their sins Mat 1:21(ISV). So the divine purpose for Christmas is that we be saved from our sins. As we celebrate the birth of he who made the stars let us pause and ask if we have truly experienced salvation from sin and its power. Listen! This is the hour to receive God's favor; today is the day to be saved! 2Cor 6:2(GNB) 

A Christ less Christmas Week 50, 2015

It has reached an astonishing level - this avoidance of Jesus the Christ in lives of men. In this period of remembering His birth many welcome celebrations but refuse to recognise the celebrant. Perhaps it started with “season’s greetings” and continued with “happy holidays”. Now the Christmas tree has been dubbed the holiday tree! A documentary on another religion is well advertised and aired repeatedly in international media, whilst a paid advert on the Lord’s prayer is rejected on the grounds it might offend those of other faiths and those who have no faith at all. What is it that makes men so uneasy about the mention of the name “Jesus Christ”? Well I suppose it should not be too surprising. The LORD told Samuel, " In fact, it's not you they have rejected, but rather they have rejected me from being their king…” 1Sam 8:7(ISV). It should be no surprise at all. Jesus Himself in the parable of the talents makes it clear His rule is unwelcome by the citizens of this world. But the citizens of his country hated him and sent a delegation to follow him and to announce, 'We don't want this man to rule over us!’ Lk 19:14(ISV). 

What comes as a surprise then is when we who claim Christianity swallow it and promote Santa Claus over Jesus Christ of Nazareth, born in a manger to save us from sin. Why do people teach Christmas season is one for giving, but refuse God’s own Christmas gift to us? The angel told them, "Stop being afraid! Listen! I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people. Today your Savior, the Lord Messiah, was born in the city of David Lk 2:10-11(ISV).  No it is not about sensitivity to people and their belief system for Jesus’ birth is a historical fact incontrovertible. And what if December 25 was not actually the day Jesus Christ of Nazareth was born into the world? It makes no difference. Many a reunion has been held outside the calendar date of the last parting; so many anniversaries are marked on dates different from the original event. No one celebrates such making apologies or without clearly stating the reason. The events of these days to me are mere attempts to have a Christ less Christmas.

This rejection of Jesus at Christmas is actually as old as the event: she gave birth to her first-born son. She dressed him in baby clothes and laid him on a bed of hay, because there was no room for them in the inn Lk 2:7(CEV).  Who told you there was no vacancy at all? The scripture says “for them”. No room for them.  But just as He would not force Himself upon that inn to be born and suffered being born in a manger, so today Jesus won’t force Himself into your life; just in case you feel too busy to be bothered by all this. He was in the world, and the world was made through him. Yet the world did not recognize him. He came to his own creation, yet his own people did not receive him. However, to all who received him, those believing in his name, he gave authority to become God's children Jn1:10-12(ISV).  He is God’s personal Christmas gift to you. What are you doing with Him? Rejection brings peril