Long before the Son of God came to dwell on Earth in sin-ridden Judea, He lived with Adam and Eve in the perfect Garden of Eden. Sin shattered the Garden’s perfect harmony, but a decision had already been made—God’s plan for mankind’s future was activated.
The Creator dealt with Satan first, cursing him and assuring him that he would never win the war he created. He would be defeated by the offspring of a woman. Though the man and woman brought sin’s curse into an unspoiled world, hope was present, biding its time till the Messiah would come.
And at the fullness of time, according to God’s plan, He came. Jesus was born as a human, yet God. He suffered as God and died as man. The only disclosure of the agony of His decision was in Gethsemane when He wrestled with something He had never experienced, estrangement from His Father—the price of our adoption.
The manger and the cross represent Christ’s decision—costly, indescribably painful, and fully effective. His suffering in birth and death bought us eternal joy and a home in Heaven. God’s provision, revealed in the first book of the Bible*, is a gift offered to every person in all time. It brings the final decision to our own doorstep: believe, or disbelieve? It’s our choice to adopt Mary’s humility and Joseph’s surrender, or Herod’s pride.
She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus,
because He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21
The gift, and the decision, is ours.
*Genesis 3:15
BARBARA HIGBY 