The first meeting of our new ‘Book Club’ was held last night. The book we are reading and discussing (see image below) is R C Sproul’s, ‘The Holiness of God’….it’s deep and engaging (what else could it be on such a big topic?)!
Interested in joining in? It’s not too late. Contact us for details.
The last words spoken by dying people can be sad, weird or anything in between. Elvis Presley said, “I’m going to the bathroom to read.” Joseph Wright was a linguist who edited the English Dialect Dictionary. His last word was “Dictionary.” Multimillionaire, Richard Mellon enjoyed a game of Tag with his brother through seven decades of his life. When dying, Richard whispered, “Last tag” to his brother who then was “It” for four years until his death. In John 19:30 we find read that the last words of Jesus were, ‘It is finished’. But what was it that was finished? His suffering? The drink he’d been offered?
The Apostle John wrote in the common Greek of the day and in that language, Jesus said just one word, which has this meaning, ‘It is finished, it stands finished and it will always be finished’. The death of Jesus was no accident. He willingly embraced the cross. His death was not an example either. His death was a payment. By saying ‘it is finished’, Jesus expressed that what he had come to do – to rescue God’s people – and that was now complete. He paid a debt that wasn’t his, leaving absolutely nothing to pay.
See, salvation is God’s work on our behalf. It is a gift from God that is received by faith. Everything hinges on what Jesus completed. And what’s more, this last word of Jesus is a lifeline to those who believe. Call on Him. He will save you. If you don’t, then He must speak that last word about you.
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Christmas is not about reindeer, sleigh bells or Santa, turkey, stuffing, mince pies or fruitcake, Christmas trees or presents. It’s not even about shepherds and wise men, a bright star or a manger. These last mentioned things help to make up the Bible’s account of the first Christmas, but they are not what it’s about.
God began the gift-giving tradition at Christmas by giving us His Son, Jesus. Why did He do that? Because we cannot deal with our own sin. We can no more change our sinful condition as a leopard can his spots! God sent His Son into the world to save us. The Bible says that, ‘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” (John 3:16).
The sad truth about Christmas is that although we all desperately need the Saviour that God sent, most people will not receive Him. Even though God’s offer is open to ‘whoever believes’ and there is no barrier in His eyes created by your skin colour or socio economic standing or which football team you support…still most people don’t mind the trimmings that go with Christmas itself, but they don’t want the Saviour that God sent.
So what is Christmas about? It’s about Jesus. It is possible to have Christmas without Jesus, but it will not be complete. You may well have the presents and all the trimmings, but without Jesus you only have the outer shell not the inner core. Imagine making more fuss over the wrapping paper than the gift it contains!
Christmas is nearly here and it will soon be gone. Don’t let it be another one filled with only wrappings and trimmings. You may never have another opportunity like this one. Seek Him.
