Guest Author: Dr. Immanuel Christian
For more than twenty-five years Dr. Imanuel G. Christian has been involved in producing Bible commentaries and other study material in his native language Gujarati, one of the major languages of India, and also involved in Bible teaching and preaching ministries.
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Well, as you know, it’s time for My birthday again. Last year they had a really big party for Me, and it seems like they will again this year.
After all, they've been shopping and preparing for it for months now, and there have been announcements and advertisements almost every day about how soon it's coming! They really do go overboard about it, but it's nice to know that at least on one day of the year some people are thinking about Me a little.
You know, it's been many years now since they first started celebrating My birthday. Back then they seemed to realize and appreciate how much fun it is for the little children. Just the same, it seems that most folks are missing the point of it all.
Like last year, for example, when My birthday came around, they threw a big party. But, can you believe it? I wasn't even invited! Imagine! The guest of honor, and they forgot all about Me?
Preparations for the festivities were made months in advance; but, when the big day came, I was left out in the cold! Since this has happened so many times in recent years, I really wasn’t surprised. Though I wasn't invited, I thought I'd just quietly observe; so I came in and stood off to the side.
Everyone was drinking, laughing and having a grand time, when all of a sudden in came this fat fellow in a bright red suit, wearing a phony white beard and shouting, "Ho Ho Ho!”
He looked like he had more than enough to drink. When he collapsed into a big armchair, all the little children went running over to him excitedly yelling, "Santa! Santa!". I mean, you would have thought he was the guest of honor and the whole holiday was just for him!
Finally I just had to leave, and I walked out the door. It was no surprise that no one even noticed that I had gone. As I walked down the street afterward, tears of sadness came to my eyes. Maybe you didn’t know that I can cry! (John 11:35)
The little manger scene many of you put in the corner of your living room is really touching! It's good that people commemorate My birthday like that. Did you know that nowadays, in some countries, the authorities won't even allow manger scenes to be placed in parks, streets, or public places anymore! Not to mention their schools!
I'm not talking about just Communist countries! I'm talking about the good, old USA. Imagine! What could be more innocent than a manger scene to remind people of My birthday? Yet it is banned! Laws have been passed against it to make it illegal! What's this world coming to? (My answer here.....An End!)
Another thing that amazes Me is how, on my birthday, instead of giving Me presents of worship, most people just give gifts to each other! And, to top it all off, it's usually all kinds of stuff they don't even need!
Let me ask you, wouldn't you find it odd if when your birthday came along, all your friends decided to celebrate it by giving each other presents, but not give you a thing?
Someone once explained it this way, "Well, it's because you're not around like other people are, so how can we give you a present?” You know my answer to that one: Then give gifts of food and clothing to the poor, help those who need it. Go visit the lonely! Any gift you give to your needy fellow man, I'll count as if you gave it to Me personally! (See Matthew 25:34-40)
Well, there is an end even to My patience. So I'm going to let you in on a secret…this is something I've been planning on doing for quite sometime.
I'll have my own party! How about that? It's going to be the most fantastic feast you could possibly imagine! It might not happen this year, but I'm sending out the invitations now. I know you'll want to come. There is going to be room for everyone who wants to come! Some really famous old timers and celebrities are going to be there, and I'll reserve your seat of honor right with them! (Matthew 8:11)
So, hold on to your hat because when everything is ready, I'm going to spring it as a big surprise!
Many people are going to be left out in the cold because they did not answer My invitation. Let me know right away if you'd like to come. I'll reserve you a place and write your name in large golden letters in My great big Guest Book! (Revelation 20:15)
Much Love always,
Jesus
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“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed Me. I was thirsty, and you gave Me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited Me into your home. I was naked, and you gave Me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for Me. I was in prison, and you visited Me.’ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see You hungry and feed You? Or thirsty and give You something to drink? Or a stranger and show You hospitality? Or naked and give You clothing? When did we ever see You sick or in prison and visit You?’ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these My brothers and sisters, you were doing it to Me!’ Matthew 25:34-40 NLT
And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NLT
And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew 8:11 NLT
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