Where the story truly begins?
Every year, at around the month of December, most of the contemporary world celebrate a well known ADVENT event; that is Christmas. By definition, Advent means the beginning of an event or the arrival of a person. It also means ‘an invention being made’, which is important for this article but this will be for later use. For now, Advent is also a traditional time period of four weeks when the religious prepare spiritually before December 25.
Though Christmas is an expected holiday, many still have no clear understanding of what to really make of it. When asked about Christmas, most would correctly answer that it is the day that Jesus Christ was born. But when asked about the more important life-changing aspects of Christmas, you wouldn’t believe how many shrugs and blank stares I get. Of course, this is not new to me.
Romans 10:2
For I (the Apostle Paul) can testify about them (Israelites) that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.
Like what the Apostle Paul wrote, Biblical knowledge is sorely lacking. Many enthusiastic folks may know the gist of Christmas but a lot of it is not based on actual Bible knowledge.
So, for this Advent time, I offer myself as a fascilitator into the BIBLE that I love and that changed my life. How do I qualify? Let me state that I am not a scholar. But God had set me and many more of us who believe to be witnesses to His goodness.
So, let this Advent tour of the Bible begin. Most Christmas stories start with an angel visiting a fourteen year old girl and revealing to her that she will become the mother of Savior of the world. But a question must be asked and in need of an answer.
Why does the world need a
SAVIOR?
The answer to this, we must go way way back to the very beginning.
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
I think I’ll leave you to read the rest of Genesis 1 on your own. As your guide, I would like to show you how the psalmists expressed what they felt about creation.
Psalm 33:6-9
The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born. He assigned the sea its boundaries and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs. Let the whole world fear the Lord, and let everyone stand in awe of him. For when he spoke, the world began! It appeared at his command.
Psalm 74:16-17
Both day and night belong to you; you made the starlight and the sun. You set the boundaries of the earth, and you made both summer and winter.
Psalm 104:24-25
O Lord, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures. Here is the ocean, vast and wide, teeming with life of every kind, both large and small.
Then God made us…
Psalm 8:3-5
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor.
How were we created?
Genesis 1:26-27
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in His own image, in the image of God; male and female he created them.
Consider how special you are to Him.
After He created us, He was very pleased then He rested. So, I think I will pause here for now. We will tackle ‘Why does the world need a SAVIOR?’ in my next posting.
Creation is very much part of the Christmas story. And I hope that you would share this to everyone and this attitude…
Psalm 145:3-7
Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts. They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They tell of the power of your awesome works—and I will proclaim your great deeds. They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
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I really hope we can have a conversation. Please contact me here at Facebook MESSENGER by audio from 3-5pm Monday to Friday. Scheduled small group chats can be organized as well. Or send me a message HERE.
Johann Quisumbing 