It Really is a Wonderful Life!

“For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45

One of my favorite things to do at Christmastime is watching the movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” It stars Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey, a man who has the eye-opening experience of seeing what the world would be like if he had never been born. This revelation transforms George into a man who realizes the positive influences he has had upon those he loves, and he is reborn into a man thankful for the life he has lived.

Can you imagine what the world would be like if Jesus had never been born?

We would be a hopeless people. Sin would be rampant, and we would be engulfed by wickedness and evil. We would cry out for help, but there would be no answer. There would be unresolved heartache, despair, emptiness, and ultimately, the judgment of God. “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.” (Ephesians 5:6)

But Jesus was born.

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11

Because of Jesus, we can have forgiveness of our sins. Because of Him, we can be “…made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21) when we accept Him as Saviour. Because of this relationship with Jesus, we will never have to stand before God as judge, but instead we can stand before Him as Saviour and Lord.

Because of Jesus, we can have unrestricted access to God, communing with Him whenever we want. We can have His presence in our lives to help us, sustain us, bless us, care for us, and most of all, to love us. Because of Jesus, we have the power of God accessible to us to fight sin, and we can live a life that is good in His sight and meaningful for us.

Because of Jesus, we can have an intercessor who brings our needs, desires, and hopes to God the Father on our behalf. “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” (Romans 8:34)

Because of Jesus, we can have a place being prepared for us this very moment in heaven so that we can live there with Him forever! (John 14:2,3) Without His coming, we wouldn’t have this or any of the other promises He made when He walked this earth.

Because of Jesus, we can have the Holy Spirit of God indwelling us, helping us, comforting us, teaching us, and interceding for us. (John 14:26, 16:13, Romans 8:26-27, 1 Corinthians 2:10) Once saved by His grace, we can have the assurance that we are accepted by God, joint-heirs with Jesus (Romans 8:17) because His Spirit dwells within us! “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16)

Because Jesus came and shared His wonderful life with us, we can have a truly wonderful life in Him!

Hail the Heav’n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris’n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! the herald angels sing:
“Glory to the newborn King!”

(from “Hark the Herald Angels Sings” by Charles Wesley, altered by George Whitefield)

“I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

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If you’ve never asked Jesus to forgive your sins and become your Saviour, you can do it today! It’s as easy as A-B-C. Pray to the Lord and Admit you’re a sinner who is sorry for their sins; Believe that Jesus is God’s Son who died on the cross to take the punishment for your sins, and Choose Him to be your Saviour by asking Him to forgive you for those sins. (Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:8, 10:9-10, John 3:16) Today, you can have the wonderful life God has planned for you!

Merry Christmas!