Can I Get a Witness?

 

She laid the baby in the manger.  He was now all wrapped in swaddling clothes.  Her love for Him was overwhelming and tears fell freely from her young face.  Blessed was she above all women to have carried her Lord into this world of His own creation.  She would never forget this day of joy. 

She watched Him grow into a fine young man.  He was gifted in carpentry, but more than that, He was gifted in forming relationships.  Everyone loved Him and went to Him with their troubles.  He knew the Torah and kept all its laws.  There was none like Him. 

He became renowned in the land.  Far and wide, all knew Him.  He performed miracles and cared for everyone.  How had she ever been so chosen as to have Him for her son?  Sinners flocked to Him.  He gave them hope and He restored them physically and emotionally.

There were rumors about Him.  The rabbis were starting to murmur against Him.  Why?  He was so good and only helped others.  He showed them how much God loved them.  How could anyone not love Him?

He was on trial!  For what?  They convicted Him, but even the judge did not want to sentence Him.  The rabbinical council and the people demanded they convict Him and carry out the death sentence of crucifixion.  They chose a murderer over her own son!  Why?  He, who had done nothing but good, was condemned to die. 

She watched Him as they stripped away His clothing.  She couldn’t bear it.  He did not fight them.   They drove nails into His hands and gambled for His clothes.  He forgave them all and then He died.  She had watched it all from the beginning.  Why had God allowed this to happen?  Why had God chosen her for such pain?  Why had He given and then taken away her son?  Her tears fell again.

She helped wrap Him again as she had done in the beginning.  From swaddling clothes to hanging naked on a cross.  From burial clothes to . . .

HE IS RISEN!  He has overcome death!  He has paid the price we could never pay!  The tears flooded her face yet again.  So many tears.  Too little time.

Such is life . . . and death . . .

We are wrapped in our mother’s womb until birth and then unwrapped at birth.

We are wrapped in swaddling clothes with our mother’s love and then unwrapped for our own care as we grow.

We wrap and unwrap ourselves throughout our lives.

In death we are undressed and then wrapped for our own burials.

We are God’s special gifts to His creation, the world.  We are here for a purpose.  To bring love.  To act on the Father’s behalf and at His behest.  We are wrapped in God’s love and unwrap ourselves when we refuse His presence and forgiveness in our lives. 

He gave His own life as a gift for our eternal salvation.  He paid the price we could never pay.  He laid down his life willingly for our sins . . . covering each of us with His own blood.  He made us a gift of His life.  Have you unwrapped that gift and accepted it?  Or did you reject Him as the world did so long ago?  Have you torn off His wrapping and tossed it aside?  You cannot deny His gift.  You HAVE heard of Jesus.  You know His story.  Therefore, you HAVE unwrapped Jesus and either accepted Him or rejected Him.  Maybe you didn’t look too closely.  Maybe you didn’t value His gift above the baubles and bangles the world has placed as glittering objects all around you. 

The gift is still there.  The choice is yours.  The gift’s address is to YOU.  But He gave you the choice to accept or reject it.   Have you gambled for His clothes?  His are the only covering you will ever need.  Without His clothes, you too will hang alone and uncovered on a cross bearing your own sins.  Jesus wants to cover them for you.  HE ALREADY HAS!  What will you say on Judgment Day when He asks you why you refused Him?

 

Do You Want To Accept His Gift To You?

 

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)

 

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

 

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.  (Romans 10:9-11)

Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. – Luke 21:36