I have always wanted to go to Israel and Lebanon. I suppose now isn’t the time, though. With the terrorists attacking, holding hostages, and assaulting women and children, I need to stay out of there. But someday. Someday, there will be peace for a minute. I will go walk where Jesus walked. Did you know Tyre, from the Bible, is a city in Lebanon? Our Lebanese roots go deeply into the soil there. Our Christian roots go deeply there, too. Don’t let anyone tell you Muslims were there first. That is a historical lie. Mohammed began his reign of terror around 700 AD. (If you didn’t convert, they killed you). Nothing’s changed much. There were some other religions, but Islam wasn’t a thing.
But truthfully, the beauty of this Holy land transcends the war and fighting. This is where the Savior of the world was born. This is where He came to tell us about God’s love. He came to die. He came to rise again. He came to bring us grace so we could live with Him forever. This season we celebrate. A lot of people don’t know why. All they see is Santa and eight tiny reindeer. That isn’t Christmas.
Christmas is a very young woman, a child in our society, who God picked because she had a pure heart. Let me say that again. Her heart was pure. She was a sweet, faithful young woman who loved God. The Holy Spirit chose her. He placed a baby in her womb without the help of a human man. That baby, probably born in January, not December, is the Messiah. He became the perfect Lamb of God. The perfect sacrifice. He took away the sins of the entire world. Can you imagine? For one brief moment, all the hate, evil, and sin disappeared? The sky darkened. The veil inside the Jewish Temple was torn apart. Then He rose again on the third day. Amazing. Hundreds of eye witnesses saw Him.
Every Christmas the tinsel and trees come out. The lights get strung. People sing Jingle Bells. Winter holiday songs. Not Christmas songs. We don’t write God’s words on our hearts, anymore. (Except for a few). We don’t teach our children. We wonder why this world is so full of hate.
Without us accepting Jesus into our hearts, without calling Him LORD, the sin returned. Good people don’t go to heaven, folks. God’s children who call Jesus LORD go to heaven. He wants a relationship with each one of us.
The challenge? Teach your children one actual Christmas song this year. O Little Town of Bethlehem, or Away in a Manger. Spend less money on glitz. Spend more time on loving one another.
With the war in Israel, I feel the time is close. The time for Jesus to return approaches. Probably not tomorrow, or even the next day. Things aren’t evil enough, yet. But the day comes so much sooner every day. Fill those stockings with love, not coal. Watch for His return. Celebrate Jesus, the Savior of the world.
If you want to reply, please do so. Also, please share with your friends. May God’s love shine on you this Christmas season.
Mirror Gate Chronicles 