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December 25, 2016

How God Fulfilled His Own Promise at Christmas

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Imagine nothing. It is almost impossible. But before the creation there was nothing, except God.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)

In schools, we challenge our children’s creativity by giving them materials to work with: “See what you can do with this,” we say. But there were no materials for God to work with in shaping the universe. He created all that exists out of nothing, and He sustains the universe by His own power.

Take a fresh look at what God has created today. Look at the sky; it proclaims the work of God’s hands. Listen to the birds; they testify to God’s gentle care. Every snowflake bears witness to His majesty. Every sunrise speaks of His faithfulness.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. (Psalm 19:1-3)

This majestic Creator made you. He chose to bring you into being. He has never made anyone quite like you before, and He will never make anyone quite like you again. His purpose in giving you life is that you should radiate a unique reflection of Jesus Christ forever.

As you fill your mind with the vastness and beauty of creation, consider this: The One who made it and sustains it lies in a manger. God took our flesh, entered our world, and lived our life. The more you think about that, the more breathtaking it gets.

God came into the world to fulfill His own promise. At the creation He said, “Let us make man in our image” (Genesis 1:26). Christ came so that you should be renewed in the image of your Creator (Colossians 3:10). Think about that: The Savior came to you so that you would reflect the beauty of God’s holiness and live in the joy of His love as you reflect the full glory of His image forever.

That’s your future in Christ. So live today in anticipation of it.

This promise could only be fulfilled be Christ who is the image of God (Colossians 1:15). The world does not see Christ’s glory. But wise men came and knelt before Jesus in adoration. They saw His glory and worshiped, as we do today.


Colin Smith

Founder & Teaching Pastor

Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has authored a number of books, including Heaven, How I Got Here and Heaven, So Near - So Far. Colin is the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Open the Bible. Follow him on Twitter.
Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has authored a number of books, including Heaven, How I Got Here and Heaven, So Near - So Far. Colin is the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Open the Bible. Follow him on Twitter.