Emmanuel, God With Us Always!

Christmas is a time of togetherness, gratitude, and selflessness. It is a time to reflect on the love and gospel of Jesus and to give thanks for the gift of salvation. It is also a time to witness to our faith through love, generosity, and service.

There is no doubt that Christmas is a celebration celebrated with joy all over the world, but it becomes an experience and a divine plan when we look at the first pages of the Old and New Testaments of the Holy Bible. The Christmas we think of may begin with the blazing star above the manger in Bethlehem. Perhaps the story behind this begins in the Garden of Eden, in the first chapters of Genesis. Adam and Eve were tempted by God’s enemy, Satan, to trust in him and doubt God. Although man drifted away because he believed in the tricks of the deceived devil rather than God the Creator, God was still with him. That was when God made his decision. The divine promise that Eve’s seed would crush Satan’s head was implied to follow. That was God’s first promise of salvation, redemption, and hope.

Years passed through Chronicles. Man’s descendants continued to suffer the consequences of his disobedience. It can be assumed that neither the flood of Noah’s day, nor the wilderness journey, nor the Ten Commandments and laws, nor the fires of Sodom and Gomorrah, had brought about man’s ultimate redemption.

Along with this, centuries later, in God’s plan, the prophet Isaiah, inspired by the Holy Spirit, foresaw the coming of our Redeemer. He foresaw the root cause of the Christmas story we tell today and the connection to the great event to come. “A virgin shall conceive,” a miraculous act performed by the Spirit. By God’s wonderful design, she “shall bring forth a son.” His name is “Immanuel,” which means “God with us.” Coming to the first pages of the New Testament, “God chose Mary for that incredible purpose. Truly the greatest mission the world has ever known. Joseph accepted this remarkable truth and decided to walk before God in faith. He is a wonderful example for us.” The only begotten Son of God, Emmanuel, will come to sing with triumph, “O death, where is your sting? My Jesus has conquered death. Praise Him, Hallelujah!” was born in Bethlehem two thousand years ago.

He conquered the powers of the devil, defeated death, rose again on the third day, and is always with our Heavenly Father watching over us. God has again promised to give forgiveness of sins and eternal life to those who believe in him. Thus, the great process of eradicating sin and death, which entered the world through the first Adam, and being abolished through the second Adam, Jesus Christ, is completed in today’s celebration of Christmas.

Christmas is a celebration, a time of giving, not just a day when we exchange gifts. The spirit of Christmas is in ‘togetherness’, which must begin with the love we feel for others, a selfless time where we forgive one another and try to display the characteristics of a new creation. During this festive season, we can make the necessary changes in ourselves and in them by offering to help others. We can share the love of Christmas by recognizing the needs of others, not just by giving them money, but by helping them with their shopping, taking time to talk to them, taking them to visit their family, cooking for them or inviting them to a festive meal, volunteering to visit the elderly, helping the homeless or those close to home, visiting family you haven’t seen in a long time, and so on.

As the Holy Bible says in Romans 8:28, Our heavenly Father takes on all the joys and challenges of our lives and works them together for our good and His glory. Also, put God and family first in all areas of life!

If a person is in Christ, he is a new creation, and so is God Emmanuel with us, not just at Christmas, but always eternally.

“ Glory be to God in the highest Heavens, And on earth peace among men who please Him!”