Your Daily Devotional for December 19, 2006

 

December 19, 2006

 

 

The Everlasting Gift

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

“And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”

 

1 John 5:11-13

 

In December 1903, after many attempts, the Wright brothers were successful in getting their "flying machine" off the ground. Thrilled, they telegraphed this message to their sister Katherine: "We have actually flown 120 feet. Will be home for Christmas." Katherine hurried to the editor of the local newspaper and showed him the message. He glanced at it and said, "How nice. The boys will be home for Christmas." He had completely missed the big news of their flight! 

It is sad that many people miss the “big news” of Christmas and only know of the commercialism in it. They may not know the Christmas story or may have not heard of the Baby born in Bethlehem so that He could die for their sins. They do not know of the greatest gift ever given on Christmas—the gift of salvation.

This is not just a temporary gift. Many times young children will play with a new toy for a few days and then become uninterested in it or maybe it will break. All that time and money that their parents put into finding that special gift is wasted. But God has given us a gift that will last for all eternity. It is the opportunity to spend eternity with Him in Heaven. What a gift! This gift will never break, wear down, or get old. It is forever!

A preacher a few years ago after the close of the service went back to the door to greet the people. A lady troubled about her soul came along, and he reached out his hand and said to her, "Well, how is it with you tonight? Are you saved?" She said, "Oh, I don't know, sir; I hope so." He said, "Well, let me show you this verse, 'He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.' Do you believe on the Son?" "Oh, I do, sir, I do believe on Him with all my heart." "Well, then have you everlasting life?" She replied, "I hope so. I hope I have it."

After several times of asking the same question and receiving the same indefinite response, the minister said, "Well, I see what the trouble is." She asked, "What is the trouble?" "Why, the trouble," the minister said, "is that when you were a girl they spelled it very differently than they did when I was a boy." She said, "What do you mean? I am not that much older than you." He replied, "When you were a girl h-a-t-h spelled ‘hope.’ When I was a boy h-a-t-h spelled ‘hath’! He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life."

Friend, God has given us the everlasting gift of salvation! If we believe on Him and accept His gift, we can know that one day when we die, we will be with Christ in Heaven for eternity! What a great gift! Take time to thank God today for His free gift of salvation. Take time this Christmas season to tell those around you of the true meaning of Christmas—God’s everlasting gift to man.

 

 

 

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