‘Tis the season! The season of gifts, joy, carols, snowman sculptures, special decorations and celebrations. But what is the purpose of this season? “This is how Jesus the Messiah was born…” ~ Matthew 1:18 (NLT). Let’s go back to the beginning.

“Then God said “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” ~ Genesis 1:26 (NLT).

God’s intention was for us to reign and have dominion over the things He created. However, there was one boundary God had put in place for man not to cross. “But the LORD God warned him “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden – except the tree of knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” ~ Genesis 2:16-17 (NLT). Unfortunately, things didn’t end up the way God intended.

 “The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.” “Who told you that you were naked?” the Lord God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?” ~ Genesis 3:6-11(NLT)

Man crossed God’s boundary and sin entered the world. Since God didn’t intend for this to happen, you’d think He’d abandon us but He doesn’t. Throughout the Old Testament, He continuously wants to commune with His people but because He is a holy God and we are sinful beings, He only speaks through prophets, kings, judges. In time, He reveals His ultimate plan to the prophets. This plan is for us to be reunited with Him…how it was in the garden of Eden. God wanted ALL His children to have access to Him, not just the prophets. This plan was Jesus Christ.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” ~ John 3:16-17 (NLT)

The birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus is our gateway to reconciliation with God, returning to God’s intention of us having dominion over the earth and access to Him. As we celebrate in this Christmas season, let us remember whose life we’re celebrating and what His life means to us. As we do this, I know we will continue growing 2gether. Merry Christmas 🙂