tPoor, wretched, perverse, selfish, blind, miserable, hopeless, wicked, this is our condition—every single one of us, from the littlest to the eldest.
There is no one that is good, no not one. This is a dark cold world where pain and suffering come to every heart. The lights and glamour, laughter and mirth that allure our senses are but a cover up to the emptiness within. Picture a cup with a lid on it. This cup is like our heart. We are born with a natural drive to fill our “cup”. No one wants to fill it with ugly things. We look for the brightest, most colorful things to fill it with--friends, food, our own ideas, fun, games, pleasure, relationships, things—nice clothes, car, house—a perfect outward appearance. Notice that many of the things we try to fill our cup with aren’t bad in and of themselves. But you know what? They can’t fill the void. So as Christians we know there’s something more that we need. We need God—so we read the Bible and go to church. It's like pouring water on the cup. But what’s wrong? There’s a lid on the cup. Nothing can get inside. We’re surrounded by “things”—they might even be good things, but we are left still feeling dark, cold, alone, in pain, hopeless, helpless, selfish, poor, miserable, weighted down but empty. The human heart is ever seeking to fill a void. But no amount of things or relationships can fill that void. We can try to fill it in pleasure but it still is a heavy weight. What’s the answer? We have to open the cup! Isaiah 43:11 says, “I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.” The word Savior means: “properly to be open, wide or free, that is, (by implication) to be safe; causatively to free or succor…get victory.” (Strong’s) Do you need to be opened up so you can be filled? Do you need to be freed? Do you need victory? Luke 2:11, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Unto you a Savior! There is hope. There is freedom. Over 2000 years ago, “In the fields where the boy David had led his flock, shepherds were still keeping watch by night. Through the silent hours they talked together of the promised Saviour, and prayed for the coming of the King to David's throne. ‘And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.’ ‘Heaven is love.’ Wonder, O heavens! and be astonished, O earth!” (E. G. White, YI, December 26, 1905) John 4:42 - “…Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.” Have you heard Him yourself? Has Jesus come to you, a Savior? Acts 5:31 - “Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” “The Christmas season is the occasion of making gifts one to another, but the richest gifts Christ has given to the world in Himself, that the world through Him might not perish but have eternal life. Gifts and offerings should be brought to Christ. [Jesus wants a Christmas gift.] The most precious gift of all is that of giving Him your heart without any reserve. How acceptable to Christ would be such an offering! Give to Jesus your whole heart, for Him to write His image and superscription upon it, and to send His beams of righteousness into it to be sent to the world through the living agent.” (1888 776) Two Babes in a Manger Author unknown In 1994, two Americans answered an invitation from the Russian Department of Education to teach morals and ethics (based on Biblical principles) in the public schools. They were invited to teach at prisons, businesses, the fire and police departments—and a large orphanage. About 100 boys and girls who had been abandoned, abused, and left in the care of a government-run program were in the orphanage. The Americans relate the following Christmas story: It was nearing the holiday season, 1994, time for our orphans to hear the traditional Christmas story for the first time. We told them about Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem. Finding no room in the inn, the couple went to a stable, where the baby Jesus was born and placed in a manger. Throughout the Christmas story, the children and orphanage staff sat and listened in amazement. Some sat on the edges of their stools, trying to grasp every word. Completing the story, we gave the children three small pieces of cardboard to make a crude manger. Each child was given a small paper square, cut from yellow napkins I had brought with me. No colored paper was available in the city. Following instructions, the children tore the paper and carefully laid strips in the manger for straw. Small squares of flannel, cut from a worn-out nightgown an American lady was throwing away as she left Russia, were used for the baby’s blanket. A doll-like baby was cut from tan felt we had brought from the United States. The orphans were busy assembling their manger as I walked among them to see if they needed any help. All went well until I got to one table where little Misha sat. He looked to be about six years old, and had finished his project. As I looked at the little boy’s manger, I was startled to see not one, but two babies in the manger. Quickly, I called for the translator to ask the lad why there were two babies in the manger. Crossing his arms in front of him and looking at this completed manger scene, the child began to repeat the story very seriously. For such a young boy, who had only heard the Christmas story once, he related the happenings accurately-until he came to the part where Mary put the baby Jesus in the manger. Then Misha started to ad lib. He made up his own ending to the story as he said, "And when Mary laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay. I told Him I have no mama and I have no papa, so I don’t have any place to stay. Then Jesus told me I could stay with Him. But I told Him I couldn’t, because I didn’t have a gift to give Him like everybody else did. But I wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift. I thought maybe that if I kept Him warm, that would be a good gift. So I asked Jesus, ‘If I keep You warm, will that be a good enough gift?' "And Jesus told me, ‘If you keep Me warm, that will be the best gift anybody ever gave Me.' "So I got into the manger, and then Jesus looked at me and He told me I could stay with Him—for always." As little Misha finished his story, his eyes brimmed full of tears that splashed down his little cheeks. Putting his hand over his face, his head dropped to the table and his shoulders shook as he sobbed and sobbed. The little orphan had found Someone who would never abandon nor abuse him, Someone who would stay with him—for always. Unto him had come a Savior. “Jesus loves you and He wants your love. He would have you remember that He gave His precious life that you should not perish; and He will be unto you a present help in every time of need. Only look to Jesus and tell Him every perplexity and trial.... Ask Him to help and strengthen and bless you, and believe that He hears your prayers....” (OHC 98) Titus 2:13 - “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” – Unto you a Savior, it’s going to happen again! The Savior is coming, the 2nd time. But only as we have made Him our Savior now will He be our Savior then. Make Him your safety, your protection; let Him deliver you from your own self and perverted ways. He wants to open the lid of your heart so He can fill it! Today, may He be to you a Savior.
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SolominaEverything in life has meaning. There's a lesson in every object, every situation, every process. I want to go deeper, in a higher way. I want to listen, to understand, to know. Archives
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