But God took a risk with the creation of Adam and Eve. He gave them the choice to love him back, or not. He gave them free will.
At the start of their life here on earth, Adam and Eve were given everything that they could ever need. Everything except one thing – the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This fruit was forbidden. Grave consequences would come if they chose to disobey God.
As the story goes, both Adam and Eve were deceived by the serpent of darkness (Satan) who twisted words and spun the truth just enough for them to buy into what he was suggesting. In turn, they disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit. In an instance, everything changed. Adam and Eve were kicked out of the garden; Sin corrupted the earth; and we all are paying a price for it to this day.
But where sin abounds, hope abounds even more! (Romans 5:20). God in His infinite wisdom knew how the story would play out, long before it was written, and He was prepared for plan B.
This brings us to Christmas. A Savior, a Christ Child, born in the flesh, born of a virgin, and born without sin, was God’s plan to recompense the wrong that had been done so many millenniums ago. Isaiah the prophet foretold about his coming and described his purpose through a myriad of names: Savior, Redeemer, Son of God, Everlasting Father, Wonderful Counselor, and Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
This Christmas, we find ourselves living through tumultuous times in our nation and in our world. As we pause to reflect on what this means, the story of Christmas leads us back to the gift that God gave us all. The gift of Himself. A Messiah, born to rescue us from the sin of the world that was passed down to us from Adam and Eve so long ago.
His name bears repeating: Prince of Peace.
Peace is what our hearts long for through so much discord and hateful rhetoric in our nation today. The Christ Child, born on Christmas Day reminds us that Peace has come. His name is Jesus.
Jesus lived with us for a period of time and then he was crucified by the haters. But death could not overcome him, and He rose again. Now, He is sitting at the right hand of the Almighty God, ready to return for our ultimate rescue when the Father tells him to do so. But in the meantime, He left us with A part of himself, the Holy Spirt, and he left us with these words:
“Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you.” (John 14:27)
Our Prince of Peace. Jesus.
This is the true meaning of Christmas, and it gives us hope.
As you enjoy Christmas this year, I pray that you will be encouraged to seek out this Prince of Peace, and may your heart and soul be made full.
Merry Christmas!
Dr. Pamela Paul