I love this time of year!! I love how even the ugliest of places gets transformed into places of beauty. This is exactly what Jesus Christ does for us when we ask Him into our hearts. We have 66 books that tell us how God transformed ordinary people, ones like you and me, to do extraordinary things through them. How? All they did was say, “Yes, Lord.” In the same way we take the ugliest of places and make them beautiful with lights and adornments, Christ transforms us with His light.
All of my life I’ve loved traveling at night. I’ve loved seeing the lights and how beautiful everything looks. Have you ever returned during daylight and seen places that were gorgeous at night and in daylight is ugly. The disappointment , at times, is overwhelming. Jesus told His disciples, “You are the light of the world.” Is God filled with joy when He views the earth and He sees Christ’s light shining? Or does it make Him sad because He sees the lights diminishing? This raises the question, are they diminishing because fewer people are believing Jesus is the Son of God or because we are hiding our lights? Jesus, at that very same time also said, “Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Even 2000 years ago, Jesus knew man would be hesitant about telling ones how He transformed their lives. Now is the time for the ones who are celecbrating the Baby Jesus’ birth to share how God’s light has transformed them.
This is the time of year to reflect on how you have been transformed and give thanks for those changes. Just a minute, are you reading this wishing, yearning for that Light to change you. However you feel you’re not worthy. You’re thinking if God knew me and how I’ve lived my life He would have nothing to do with me. Don’t stop reading!! I use to say the same thing. The truth of the matter is most of the ones who have accepted the Light into our hearts felt that very same way. You see, we are all sinners. The Truth is “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son” to die on a cross at Calvary so your sins could be forgiven and God could have a relationship with you. Yes, you. God has known you since you were in your mother’s womb. He already knows what you’ve done because He has never left you. He’s there beside you right now with His arms outstretched waiting for you to ask for forgiveness and ask HIm to come into your heart. He won’t force Himself on you. He loves you too much to do that. Take it from me though (one who once felt the same way you do right now) His arms are comforting, reassuring, soothing, and protective. No longer am I filled with shame, or fear, or unworthiness. You say you want Christ in your heart but you don’t know where to start. Okay. Here, just say this prayer: “Dear God, I know that my sin(s) has separated me from you. Thank you that Jesus Christ died in my place. I ask Jesus to forgive my sin(s) and to come into my life. Please begin to direct my life. Thank you for giving me eternal life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Now, if you just said that prayer, go to a church and tell the minister, pastor, priest. Tell him you want to learn all you can about this man named Jesus. If you have a Bible (that’s the 66 books I referred to earlier) you can turn to anyone of the four Gospels: Matthew Mark, Luke and John to learn about this man named Jesus. This birthday that’s being celebrated every December 25th throughout the world, why are you celebrating it? Because you’ve been transformed, want to be transformed, or its just a day to get a bunch of presents and good food?
Faithful Journeys 