ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE GENERALLY ASSOCIATE WITH THE CHRISTMAS SEASON is the exchanging of gifts. When I was a boy we celebrated Christmas twice---once with my immediate family of six and the other at my paternal grandparent’s home. The exchanging of gifts took place at both homes, with one notable difference. You see, at our home most of the gifts were one-way, from parents (more specifically, mom) to us four.

Back in those days we got the usual toys and clothes. But that’s not all. For some reason, gifts always included fruit of the earth---oranges, nuts, and popcorn balls. I could never figure out what that was all about. I mean you couldn’t wear them or play with them. Maybe it was our parent’s way of drawing our attention to the blessings that this great land produces.

Then mom and dad would open my one gift to them---usually something I had made at school---a ceramic doo-dad of some sort, you know, crooked and twisted book ends or a mug (at least it was supposed to resemble a mug). So there was an exchanging of gifts to some extent.

However, when we went to Grandma’s farm, there were just too many people, so we drew names and exchanged gifts. I always hoped I would get a gift from Uncle George because he was a big spender (especially after he had a few eggnogs). When it was time to distribute the gifts, Uncle George would go upstairs, put on his Santa suit and hand them out. Most of the kids knew it was Uncle George under that red suit, but we went along with the whole charade. After all, he was the only adult that was missing from the crowd.

When you come right down to it, why shouldn’t gifts be exchanged at Christmas? Think back to that first Christmas when the greatest Gift of all was given to the world. Think of it. God drew our name! He gave Himself and all He asks in return is that we give ourselves to Him. We’re not talking about cheap grace, however. Calvary was the price He paid. We give Him our pride and our rebellious ways and He gives us His gift of love and salvation.

I like to think of the visit of the Wise Men as an example. They presented their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh and left with inner treasures that cannot be seen but felt. What an exchange!


Think of it! We can exchange….

(1)Fear for faith. That’s what the shepherds did. When panic grips us, we too can hurry to the Savior. It is there that we will find strength and courage.

(2) Sorrow for joy. There was plenty of sorrow to go around on that night, what with the Roman occupation. It was a dark time in Israel’s history. But our God specializes in bringing joy to the sad heart. We are told that He will turn our mourning into dancing as we place out trust in Him. As the chorus goes, “If you want joy, real joy, wonderful joy, let Jesus come into your heart. If you want joy, real joy, wonderful joy, let Jesus come into your heart. Your sins, He’ll wash away, your night He’ll turn to day, your life, He’ll make it over anew. If you want joy, real joy, wonderful joy, let Jesus come into your heart” (Joseph D. Carlson).

(3) Despair for hope. It is no accident that we describe lives without Jesus Christ as “empty.” But that’s exactly what they are. The world today is suffering from what Dr. Carl Jung calls “a neurosis of emptiness.” He says, “When goal goes, meaning goes; when meaning goes, purpose goes; when purpose goes, life goes dead on our hands.” Who wouldn’t want to exchange this way of living for the “abundant life” that Jesus promised to give those who will receive it? Emptiness is replaced with a purpose of the highest order, a future as bright as the promises of God, and an inner awareness that He is always closer than breath.

(4) Guilt for forgiveness. John 1:29 - The next day John saw Jesus coming towards him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"

Mary Jane Hansen relates the following: “Several months ago, I was involved in a traffic accident while driving along a major roadway in a shopping mall parking lot. My car was hit by a driver coming out of an aisle, resulting in $2,100 damage to the rear right-hand door. When I reported the accident to SGI (Saskatchewan Government Insurance), I was very surprised to learn that I would likely be charged one hundred percent for the accident. I strongly believed that I was not at fault, and since my only recourse was to take the other driver to Small Claims Court, I proceeded with the process.

Ten months later when my case was heard in court, the judge ruled that the other driver was seventy percent responsible, for failing to keep a proper look-out, while I was thirty percent responsible, because I did not attempt to stop, believing that I had the right-of-way. In Saskatchewan, we are charged with the accident if we bear fifty percent or more of the responsibility for it. With the judge's ruling in my favor, I was no longer responsible for the accident.

It was a relief when we had the car repaired, after having driven around with a visual reminder of the accident for eleven months. A few weeks later, I called SGI to verify that my driving record reflected the judge's ruling. I was amazed when the receptionist looked up my record and told me that there was no accident listed there. It was just as if I had not had the accident!

Now that I have had time to reflect on my experience, I see this as a perfect example of what it is like to have our sins forgiven. Instead of being one hundred percent responsible for our sins, we can experience perfect forgiveness through Jesus Christ, our Savior.” (The Sermon Illustrator, Forgiven).

(5) Anxiety for peace. Said the Robin to the Sparrow: "I should really like to know why these anxious human beings rush about and worry so." Said the Sparrow to the Robin: "Friend, I think that it must be that they have no heavenly Father such as cares for you and me." (Elizabeth Cheney)
We have a lot of “jigsaw” folks today. Every time they're faced with a problem they go to pieces. And the sad thing is that they don’t have to live this way. Our Lord offers us the opportunity to rest in Him. John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
(6) Sin for righteousness. God never alters the robe of righteousness to fit man; He changes the man to fit the robe. He makes it possible for us to live in such a way that when people speak evil of us, no one will believe it.
(7) Confusion for certainty. In The Mask Behind the Mask, biographer Peter Evans says that actor Peter Sellers played so many roles he sometimes was not sure of his own identity. Approached once by a fan who asked him, "Are you Peter Sellers?" Sellers answered briskly, "Not today," and walked on. (Today in the Word, July 24, 1993). How comforting it is to know who we are in Christ—forgiven, adopted, cherished, and headed for a very bright future. Only a fool would hold on to uncertainty. Do you know who you are?

So there you have it. Almighty God has drawn our name and extends His offer. Who could turn down a deal like that? Receive it. Believe it. Live it. Enjoy it. Share it. It’s free for the taking.

IMAGINATION! WHAT A PRECIOUS GIFT. Life would be pretty boring without it. It’s the stuff that inspires poets, song-writers, artists, and movie-makers. Imagination gives birth to dreams and visions. Ralph Waldo Emerson was right when he said, “Imagination is not a talent of some men but is the health of every man.” With that in mind, let your mind visualize with me a scene that could well have taken place in the celestial courts long, long ago.

There was sorrow in heaven. Can you imagine that? Sorrow in heaven! It seemed strange to the angels who were given the task of carrying the messages for the Master from one end of heaven to the other. A report was out that Gabriel had those things called “tears” in his eyes. Something terrible must have happened to have caused it. The only other time tears were shed in heaven was back when the earth was first created and two humans fell prey to Lucifer. It broke the Master’s heart.

The conclusion was that Gabriel’s tears must have something to do with those beings on earth. A rumor was spreading throughout the Crystal Sea that the Lord Himself was going down to earth to live among them. It was hard to believe but was confirmed by Gabriel. The Master was going to leave the Ivory Palaces and the Rainbow Throne and take up residence on that rebellious planet.

Confused angels began to ask the question that crossed everyone’s mind. “What will He do down there? The answer given by the archangel was, “He’s going to be born.” The angels answered, “Born? What’s born?” Gabriel: “I don’t know; it’s something that happens to earth creatures.”

There was a great deal of commotion in the celestial city. Angels had massed from the four corners of heaven. Row upon row, rank upon rank---angels and archangels were there before the Great Throne of God Almighty. Then they saw it. Something made their hearts sink---the seat at the right of the throne was empty! The Bright and Morning Star was gone!

Gabriel raised his hand and there was complete silence. Then in clear tones as sweet as the sound of many waters, he spoke: “You’ve been called together to hear the most wonderful pronouncement ever made in the eternal ages. Our beloved Lord, the only begotten of the Father, has left us!”


The voice of the great angel trembled and sobs burst from the lips of the gathered host. In a moment, Gabriel continued: “Our Lord has gone to earth to be born as a babe that He might take upon Himself the fashion of a man. Only in this way, the Father believes, can the earth people know of His love for them. He will take away the sin of all earth creatures who receive His offer of salvation.”

A gasp of astonishment rose from the angels. They couldn’t imagine the Lord of Glory living in a place of such darkness. In a moment, Gabriel continued: “On earth tonight in a little town called Bethlehem, His incarnation will be accomplished.

Several of the best singing angels were selected to accompany Gabriel as he made the announcement. By the thousands and tens of thousands they swept through the heavens. Down through the belt of Orion, on past the Milky Way---down, down, they went through the still night air, leaving the stars twinkling far behind them.

At a signal from Gabriel they stopped, poised above the earth. Below them, by the light of a camp fire, they could see shepherds keeping watch over their flocks. Suddenly, Gabriel broke through the clouds and stood before the men. They gazed at him and the attending hosts in awe and then fell in terror to the ground. Then Gabriel spoke: “Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord. You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”

As Gabriel finished these words, the light of the glory of God fell from heaven and the hosts began to sing, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace to men of good will.”

The song floated out upon the still night air. It enraptured the shepherds who heard it. The night breeze that blows over the fields of Bethlehem caught it up and bore it heavenward, where it echoed around the Throne of God and was lost among the stars. Then, at a signal from Gabriel the heavenly host moved upward.

One of the angels asked Gabriel how long the Master would be gone. “Thirty three years, I am told. It will take that long for Him to provide for mankind’s redemption. Heaven will be a lonely place without Him but earth will one day rejoice greatly. They will write songs and books that will praise His glorious name from age to age. He will become the fountainhead of life for all who embrace Him.” And with that, the angels broke out in a song of praise as they continued on their journey toward home.

AS WE MAKE OUR JOURNEY THROUGH THE ADVENT SEASON, one symbol is preeminent—LIGHT! Tree lights, candle lights, houses, buildings, and malls, all decorated with lights. The National Christmas tree in Washington D.C. will have over 10,000 lights on it. Perhaps it’s a parable of our times that we are rarely without some form of light. I suppose we ought to thank Edison for that. It is said that after thousands of experiments, when he finally achieved this monumental breakthrough that would affect all of human history, Edison heard the shrill voice of his wife cry out, “For goodness sake, Tom, would you turn off that light and come to bed!”

Even on the darkest night in most communities there is artificial light everywhere—streetlights, car-lights, neon signs. But I say unto you that a Greater than Edison is here!

We rarely experience total darkness because we have so much artificial light. Perhaps this is a parable of the inner darkness and emptiness of modern humanity. There is a great deal of artificial light that we’re using to cover or deny the dark side of man’s nature. But, thank God, a Greater than Edison is here!

General Electric perfected a light bulb which has a life expectancy of a million hours! Imagine a bulb that will burn eight hours a day, every day for over 342 years. Think of the convenience of having a light bulb that would last that long. I say again, a Greater than Edison is here! His light shines perpetually.

An artist once drew a picture of a Winter twilight—the trees heavily laden with snow, and a dreary, dark house, lonely and desolate in the midst of the storm. It was a sad picture. Then, with a quick stroke of a yellow crayon, he put a light in one window. The effect was magical. The entire scene was transformed into a vision of comfort and cheer. The birth of Christ was just such a light in the dark world. Darkness flees before His presence.

Yes, the Light of the World has come---to offer us pardon, forgiveness, hope, and a future. Step out of the shadows and into His light. You will see more clearly the purpose for your life. The prophets knew He would come. The light is still breaking through the darkness. Come, walk in the light of the Lord.