Arguably the two most important holidays in our country (other than possibly July 4th) are Christmas and Easter, and both concern the two most significant events of our Christian faith, the physical birth and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ.

I recently read again chapter 15 of I Corinthians, where the apostle Paul underscores the absolute essentiality of the resurrection. He lists 7 awful consequences for all of us if Christ had not risen from the dead. As I read them, it occurred to me that those same awful things would be true if Christ had never come to earth in the first place. What IF Jesus had never been born? What IF there were no Christmas?

Look at this list Paul gave us in I Cor. 15:14-19...

1. Our preaching would all be in vain...v.14a
2. Our faith would all be in vain...v.14b
3. We would be false witnesses (liars)...v.15
4. We would still be in our sins...v.17
5. Our believing, deceased loved ones have perished forever...v.18
6. We have absolutely no eternal hope...v.19a
7. We are the most pitiable people on earth...v19b

BUT, Paul goes on to write in Holy Scripture about the absolute certainty of the resurrection, and ladies and gentlemen, we can be just as certain about the birth of Jesus Christ!! It is a fact of history. In fact, the greatest events in history are HIS-STORY! There is a good reason why the birth, life, death and resurrection of Christ is aptly called, "The Greatest Story Ever Told", and it is all true!! And because it's true, Paul's list of 7 awful things are turned into 7 wonderful things, and the list is as follows...

1. Our preaching is not in vain!
2. Our faith is not in vain!
3. Our witness of Jesus Christ is true!
4. We are saved from our sins by grace, through faith in Jesus!
5. Our believing, deceased loved ones are safe in the arms of Jesus!
6. We have an eternal hope that is steadfast and sure!
7. We are the most blessed people on earth!

So, dear friends, let's be bold to say "Merry Christmas" to everyone, and be ready to celebrate and share "the greatest story ever told" to anyone who will listen!!