And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21 KJV
Right at the very scene of the first sin, God's plan of eternal salvation was laid. Man fell, but God had a plan to redeem man back to Himself. You see, man's biggest need isn't to have his needs met, but to have his soul saved. We have allowed the message about possession, power, position and privilege take the place of the most important consideration of all: the need for the presence of God in a man's heart. It doesn't matter what else you have; if you don't have Jesus in you, all what you hold on to is a lie that will be found out when etenity beckons. When you have Him, you have all that really matters, along with every other thing that He gives you.
Specifics now: everything about today's extract was foretold as far back as the Garden of Eden, when God promised that the seed of the woman will crush the head of the serpent. Now, we see a certain woman mentioned here, who would be the one to bring forth that seed. Nothing was said about her wealth or status, but that she was a virgin. It may not sound like much, but one of God's requirements for a life of impact is purity. He will take you as you are, but when you have surrendered to Him, you have got to walk in purity. There are heights that God will take a man to if the man is willing to walk in total purity. Sometimes, God will use whatever is available, even if filthy, but it cannot be long lasting or of eternal value, unless that life repents.
The gender, purpose and mission of that seed are all clearly spelt out by God. He has absolute knowledge of all, and His purpose for all mankind cannot be thwarted. He knows the end from the beginning, and nothing catches Him by surprise. This seed, a boy, to become a man, was coming restore man fully back to God. His name is given: Jesus, which means Saviour, so his name even reveals and establishes His mission. From his birth, that would be his sole pursuit: the salvation and redemption of man.
Again, man's greatest need isn't to have his needs met, but to have his soul saved. As is apparent from today's extract, nothing is said about what I am to give Him in return, except my life, or what else He is to give me, except salvation. With salvation in place, the fullness of God is released to man. If God could give up His one and Only Son, what else could be so difficult that He cannot give up? God considered sin so serious that an equally serious remedy had to be provided. If God then sees sin this way, can I dare see it any other way?
The price of sin is the life of God's son, and the prize for receiving the gift of the Son is the eternal life that God offers. The price is available; full and free. Have you accepted this gift and does the life of God flow in and out of you? It is the season of Christmas; many will celebrate, but few know the person and essence of the season. I must not let the free gift of God go to waste in my life; eternity is at stake. His time of favour is here.
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