Vol. 2, No. 24 (December 18, 1999)

Some time ago, I was listening to a preacher on the radio. He told the story about two brothers who moved to southern California to get work. They found themselves a small apartment, found jobs, and began a new life. This being southern California, the climate was warmer than what they were used to in the Midwest, and they made a discovery: ants were everywhere. Several times, they threw out stocks of food and did a thorough cleaning in an attempt to rid themselves of the ants. It didn't work.

The story went on to tell how the brothers tried to "figure out" what attracted the ants, but there never seemed to be any logical conclusions. Always, the ants would come back. One day, one of the brothers in frustration, said to the other, "I wish we could find out what is going on in their heads. Wouldn't it be great to be able to talk to these ants and find out what they are thinking? Why do they keep doing the same thing, over and over again, when all they will get is trouble? Don't they know that if they continue, they could get hurt?"

"Yes," said the other brother, "but the only way for us to talk to them, and explain that to them ... would be to become one of them."

 "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” (John 3:16-17, NIV)

This, to me, is the message of Christmas... that God Himself stooped down to "our level", so that He could talk with us in a concrete way, show us His love and His goodness and share with us the hope of salvation. He became a human baby, awesome God that He is. Let us take some time this Advent season, and like Mary, treasure up all of these things and ponder them in our
hearts.

Best wishes for a Joyous Christmas season!

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page