COLUMN: I don't understand it, but I stand on it

 Many years ago someone came up with the phrase, “Jesus is the reason for the season.” I love this phrase. I seriously doubt if there would be any Christmas celebration were it not for the Christ of Christmas.

Since Christmas is about Christ, let us consider who he is, what he did and what we owe him. First, Jesus was God come in the flesh (John 1:14). He was human and divine. The Apostle John says, “In the beginning was the Word, and Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning” (1:1-2).

Jesus was the only religious leader who ever claimed to be God. How could Jesus be human and God? It is like the late Vance Havner said, “I don’t understand it, but I stand on it.”

What did Christ do? For one thing, he created heaven and earth (John 1:1-3). He came in human form to save us from our sin (Romans 6:23). Of course, it wasn't just his appearance that saved us ­– it was his death on the cross (Romans 5:8).  He is the way, the truth and the life. There is no other way to the Father but through Him. (John 14:6)

Considering, who he is and what he did for us, now what do we owe him? We owe him everything – surrender, obedience and faith. We owe Christ our very lives considering what he did for us – created us, provides daily needs, watches over us and became sin for us.

Out of gratitude for what he has done for us, we should walk daily with him and seek to please him in all things. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:9, we should make it our aim to “please Him in all that we do.” Christ gave us everything, including a home in heaven. We owe our all to him.