Several years ago, my wife and I visited Bethlehem while on a Holy Land tour. While there, we enjoyed a very special, totally unexpected treat - a parade! Dressed in full military uniform were young men and women, boys and girls, beating drums, playing bagpipes and marching through the streets of the birthplace of our Savior.
Later we discovered the parade was to honor a visiting dignitary, though we never heard a name. Our group really enjoyed this brief intermission of our tour. Our tour guide even joined in the parade for a short time until he got waved off the street.
I have often wondered if we were alive 2,018 years ago if we would have arranged a parade to welcome a new-born dignitary. Would you and I have welcomed the birth of Jesus with celebration and joy because we realized a Savior was born into our world? I doubt it.
Scripture says Jesus was born into this world to save sinners:
"She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21)
The hard truth is, we are so wrapped up in sin we can't see or think straight. Self-centered people are dull of hearing when it comes to spiritual things. Wrongdoers lack purpose in life. Lost people need direction. Sinners need a Savior. Nevertheless, above all and in spite of all, God loves sinners (Romans 5:8).
We can thank God that in the 33 years that followed His birth, Jesus not only told us He was "the Way, the Truth, and the Life" (John 14:6), He actually proved He was. Jesus suffered and died for us so that by faith in Him we could experience life in all its fullness as it was meant to be.
Many of us have taken Jesus up on His offer to receive this life and we never again have to worry out our eternal destiny. Death is no longer something to fear. Love, joy, peace and salvation are finally ours right here, right now through faith in Jesus. If you have not yet taken this step, why not take care of that right now? This is the only gift that truly keeps on giving. This is why He was born in a feeding trough in a small town in the Middle East 2,018 years ago...and He did it for you and me.
God has a habit of turning sinners into winners! It's time to rejoice! It's time to ring bells! It's time to sing! Come to think of it, it's a great time for a parade!
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Rev. Brian Sharp is a graduate of Oral Roberts University, Tulsa, Oklahoma and Perkins School of Theology, Dallas, Texas. Along with his wife, Pam, he has been pastor of Grace Christian Fellowship in Poplar Bluff for the past 25 years. He is the current president of World Ministry Fellowship, Plano, Texas. Locally he works with the Bread Shed food distribution ministry serving over 25,000 people a year, as well as Crossroads Ministry bringing hope and healing through Jesus to those wrestling with addiction. In addition, he's also the author of a book entitled, "Beyond - Where Our Limitations No Longer Matter."