Jesus, Savior and Judge

Jude 1:5 Now I want to remind you, although you once knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.

It is Christmas morning and the kids are on a sugar high and in need of a nap. A rare snowfall outside reminds me of Jesus's pure sinless life, and conversely my not so stainless deeds. Christmas songs, meals with friends, stories and talk of stables, angels and wise men are every where in good ol' Alabama. Conversations with friends, family and strangers are dominated with travel and traditions with Jesus's birth tagged on as a necessary postscript.

This morning as I celebrate the joy of Christmas, I am burdened for others. For the 25,000 kids that will die today due to starvation and preventable diseases I have sorrow. For the millions of people who think that they have belief, faith and a relationship with Jesus when all they have is a factual knowledge makes my heart hurt. Jesus is good news. At least to those who are satisfied by Him and Worship Him. Look at the words of Jude to the believers in the first century. Jesus's work made a salvation possible for all of the Israelites, but those who did not believe HE destroyed. In this one verse we see the perfect mercy and perfect Justice of Christ demonstrated. We also see the Gospel truth of our desperate need for Christ to stand in our place before God. Sinful man in the presence of a holy God without Christ's blood atoning for our sins gives us the death we all have earned. So He desires to be savior to all, but will be judge and destroyer who refuse to praise and worship the God of Mercy.

I would ask each of you this Christmas a tough question. Do you really believe that Christ was born on Christmas to die as a sacrifice? Do you believe that their was a tiny baby that had the weight of the whole world and your eternal destiny on His shoulders? If you at the core of your heart believe that then I praise God for His grace so press into Him as we celebrate deliverance that Christmas symbolizes.

If those questions seem foreign or like a fairy tale I pray that He would draw you into His grace. Ask Him this Christmas to draw you into the Love and grace he offers.