The Christmas season offers many opportunities to turn the conversation towards the significance of the One Whom so many claim to be celebrating. This is a lightly edited version of a brief gospel tract I wrote some time ago entitled “The Gift that Changes Lives.” My prayer is that those who know the Lord would be encouraged to share that knowledge with others and that those who do not would receive the only Gift that truly changes lives forever.
The giving of gifts is a central part of Christmas and the other winter holidays. Retailers try to outdo each other in the extravagance of the gifts they provide. Children write and rewrite their want lists. Shoppers exhaust their time and money in the search for the perfect gift. Yet nothing that is sold in a store, no matter how unique or costly, can truly meet our deepest need. You cannot purchase peace with God. Almost 2000 years ago, Jesus asked the question, For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? It is a question that confronts us to this day, a question that none can afford to ignore.
You see, you and I are sinners. The Bible says, For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. and, The wages of sin is death. Even if you are a nice person, you are still a sinner and you still deserve God’s judgment. We are all sinners, we have all broken God’s law and we all deserve His judgment in hell. No matter how hard you try, you will never be able to do enough good to pay for the wrong you have already done. The Bible tells us that, all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags, utterly unable to please a holy God. If this was the end of the story, we would truly be without hope.
In His wonderful mercy, God provided a way of escape. The Bible says, But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. This is the gift that God has given. While we were still His enemies, He gave His Son as a ransom for our sins. Jesus took the penalty for our sins upon Himself. He died, He was buried, and on the third day He rose, forever victorious over death and hell.
A gift is not yours until you receive it. The Bible says, But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name. God’s gift is available to anyone who will repent of their sins and turn from them to the Savior, yet it is so wonderful that it must be received with both hands empty. You cannot receive God’s gift until you are willing to agree with God that your sins deserve His judgment, that you can do nothing to save yourself, and that He is your only hope.
God has never rejected a repentant sinner. If you receive Him today, He will not only save you from hell, but also begin a process of preparing you for heaven that will not end until your entire life has been transformed by His wonderful gift. Have you received the gift that changes lives?
It is impossible for this short article to answer all of your questions about the wonderful gift of God. Please contact us if you would like to know more about how to be made right with God.
