The wise men from the east celebrated the birth of Jesus and for more than two thousand years we have marvelled that a child born in a stable could bring us eternal peace with God. He came to prepare the greatest gift ever given but we have not yet received the gift in all its reality.
Jesus is coming again to personally deliver the gift he prepared. Did you get it? Jesus is coming again to personally deliver the gift he has prepared!
He explained it to his disciples after his death and resurrection. At the Mount of Olives his disciples asked him privately, "what shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world?" (Matt. 24:3b KJV)
Jesus said "For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." (Matthew 24:27 KJV). Meanwhile He said "I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14:2d,3 KJV)
He was going to prepare a place for His people, and when He comes, He comes with power and great glory to take them home to it.
The gift He prepared at the first Christmas is historical. It is to be opened to us at the second Christmas: "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give to every man according as his work shall be." (Revelation 22:12 KJV).
So instead of looking backward for two thousand years, we should be looking forward to opening the gift of eternity with Jesus.
Rejoice!
Elizabeth Price
