Christmas Past and Future

Here are a couple of pictures of my grandmothers (paternal on the left and maternal on the right). Note the terrified great-grandchildren including Tabitha in her red suspenders. Sadly, both of my grandmothers have passed on, but I know I will see them again some day. Christmas is a time for families to gather and to enjoy one another's company. There are only a finite number of opportunities for us be with one another; however, Christ came to provide us with the chance to live with him forever and to be reunited with those saints who have passed on before us. According to Jesus' own words, he came "to seek and to save that which was lost." It was the human race that was lost in sin; it was the human race Jesus came to save by his sacrificial death on the Cross. All we need do is ask for the salvation Jesus provided. Salvation comes "by grace through faith" is the way Paul put it and "not by works lest any man should boast." We each need to search our hearts to be sure we can go back to a specific time and place where we ask the Lord Jesus to provide us with that salvation-- a personal request, for personal salvation, from a personal saviour. This salvation was not something we were born with or acquired through baptism or doing good works. True salvation comes by the grace of God to those who ask in faith for what they did not earn and did not deserve. My prayer is that all who read this blog have been saved; for me there could be no greater gift than to know all of my family and friends will spend eternity in heaven.