What If?
We celebrated Christmas just a few
weeks ago, and it’s one of two major, Christian holidays that has its
origin in biblical roots. At Christmas, Christians celebrate the birth
of Jesus, God’s Son. In a few months, Christians around the world will
celebrate the resurrection of the living Christ, following a
horrendous, brutal death on a Roman cross.
If you’re not a believer, or a Christ follower, perhaps you disregard
the stories of Christ’s birth and resurrection, or put up with them
because you respect the beliefs of your family or friends. Or, do you
mock Christians for believing in such far-fetched tales?
Personally, maybe you prefer to
celebrate these holidays in the more popular, secular ways with the
focus on Santa, tinsel and the Easter Bunny. It’s also possible these
are the only two occasions you attend church each year. If that’s the
case, perhaps you consider the messages nice folklore stories, but
they’re for others, not you. You might even pretend to listen to the
messages, but all you really hear is “blah blah blah.”
Today I’d like to challenge you to
consider the “what if’s” of these holidays. “What if” there is
an ounce of truth in the biblical account of these two events? “What
if” God really did have the ability for Mary to remain a virgin, yet
supernaturally conceive the prophesied Messiah, God’s Son? “What if”
Jesus really did come back to life after lying lifeless in a grave for
three days?”
After all these years of being a
naysayer or doubting the biblical roots of these holidays, is it
possible I can spark your curiosity or convince you to open your heart
and mind just a crack to investigate and explore for yourself these
“what ifs?” Because when it’s all said and done, Santa Claus and the
Easter Bunny are only pretenders in colorful, silly costumes who can do
nothing for you toward where you spend eternity. Oh, sure, they liven
up the holidays and add a whole lot more fun to the celebrations than a
serious Bible message. But, belief in the living Christ, who is
celebrated on both holidays, is the only real person who can deliver
you from the tentacles of death into an everlasting life.
I challenge you to put aside your
doubts and skepticism and truthfully ask yourself the “what if”
questions. And, I encourage you to also ask yourself this question, “Am
I willing to risk my eternal future, my forever home, on my personal
opinion and my own interpretation of truth?”
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