When the phrase, “the Babe,” is heard at this time of year, perhaps most minds are still drawn to the Babe in a manger, 2000 years ago in the village of Bethlehem.  He was called Jesus, the Christ.  The word Christ in the New Testament, and Messiah in the Old Testament are the same word in different languages.  They mean Anointed One, and in the case of Jesus, God’s Anointed One.  In the scriptures, priests and kings were anointed with oil at their inauguration.  Jesus is both a Priest and a King—God’s Anointed.   

  The Bible tells us that in His incarnation [being born on earth], Jesus, who is God’s eternal Son, became, “God in the flesh.”  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. . . And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-3, 14)”

  This raises the question, Why would God choose to be robed in flesh and live among men?  The Bible clearly states that God, in His holiness, cannot tolerate sin.  In His justice, He cannot overlook sin, and His judicial laws require that the penalty of death be imposed upon all sin.    Since sinful man has nothing to offer in his own defense, Jesus became “God in the flesh” to bear the penalty for man’s sin, and make him eligible for forgiveness..

  But, according to God’s law, our redemption would require the bloody, sacrificial death of a Perfect Sinless Substitute.  “…without shedding of blood is no remission [forgiveness]. (Hebrews 9:22)”  The story of His passion is called the gospel, or “Good News.”  “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1Corinthians 15:3-4)”

  Jesus is God’s gift to you, but you will have to receive Him!  “…if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9)”

  The word standard is one of those dictionary entries that in some cases takes up more than a page.  More than one of its definitions involve a peculiar , yet applicable model—authoritatively produced—by which morals, or customs, or values, or qualities, or quantities, or weights, or volumes, or units of distance, etc. are universally measured.  For example, a yardstick is a universal standard by which we can determine distances.  Imagine where we would be without standard units of measure in building automobiles or skyscrapers.  Imagine the confusion that would persist if there were not standards for measuring volume or weight in a bakery or a butcher shop.  Standards are essential in every realm or discipline.

  What about the standards for moral excellence or customs?  Who has the authority to decide what is right and wrong in a culture or society?  But without universal standards, everyone would simply do what was right in his own eyes, resulting in conflict and discord, and eventually civil unrest or even anarchy.  Historical and contemporary examples abound.

  Contrary to popular thought, no nation, society or individual has the authority to set the universal standards in the nonmaterial realm.  This would require a supreme authority, with unlimited knowledge of that realm—It would require a God.  Fortunately for us, there is such a God, and He has revealed Himself to us through His written Word.  Paul, the apostle, wrote in his letter to the Romans of old, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. (Romans 11:33-36)”

  Not only does the God of the Bible have the authority and wisdom to set the standards for every nation and society, He has the right!  After all, it all belongs to Him.  “The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. (Psalms 24:1)”

  In the Christmas story, God moved Matthew to borrow the text of Isaiah’s prophecy of old, and apply it to the birth of Jesus Christ.  “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (Matthew 1:23)”  So, the God of creation, came to earth and dwelt among men on that first Christmas Day!  He came to die for the sins of mankind.  He rose from the dead in three days, demonstrating His victory over sin, death and Hell.  He was indeed God with us.

  After He ascended back to Heaven, He kept His promise to replace His own physical presence on earth with that of the Holy Spirit, which He called, “The Comforter.”  “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: (John 15:26)”  He, the Spirit of God, would reside in the spiritual hearts of everyone who would repent of their sins and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.  So, in a very personal way, God is still with us.  While knowing God is experienced in the non-material part of man, those who possess His Spirit are comforted by His undeniable presence.

  Jesus also promised, before He ascended back to Heaven, that He would return to claim for Himself, those who have made Him Lord, and accepted His gift of forgiveness.  “…I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:3)”  According to His Word, this return is eminent (it could happen at any time).  The event is commonly referred to as the Rapture or Catching Away of the Church.

  Even then, Christ’s work on earth will not be complete.  He promised the Hebrews of old that He would reign as their King for 1000 years from Jerusalem.  His reign will be a time of peace on earth, and truly good will toward man, but before that day comes, there must be a time of judgment on this sinful earth.  The Bible refers to this seven years of divine judgment as the Tribulation.  It will be a time of decision for all flesh; everyone will decide what he/she believes about the Lord, Jesus Christ—God with us.

  Generally when you see the term, “a needy nation,” you think of a third world country that is impoverished; its people are very thin and quite often malnourished, but physical needs are not the first sign of a nation in decline.  The precursor to physical abasement and humanitarian crisis is a deterioration of, and departure from, God ordained moral absolutes.

  In a nation whose founders would embrace slogans like: “In God We Trust,” and “One Nation Under God,” when its leaders becomes self serving (narcissist) and employ lies, theft and cheating to accomplish selfish goals, morals have eroded.  When society is fully vested in lasciviousness (unbridled lusts), and engaged in every deviant sexual practice known to man (e.g. incest, fornication, adultery, prostitution, homosexuality transvestism, bestiality, etc.), morals have eroded.  When God calls something right and man calls it wrong, or when God calls it wrong and man calls it right, morals have eroded.  When men of faith blush to speak His name, and fear to speak His Word, morals have eroded.

  Though many disdain the mention of morals because they border, or perhaps overlap into the spiritual realm, it would serve us well to be reminded that we were made by God, in the image of God, to serve God, and we will ultimately answer to God, and be measured by His moral laws.  Let every nation heed the warning that God gave Israel over three millennia ago:  “Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day… (Deuteronomy 11:26-28)”  Israel, though it seemed to have good intentions, failed God, ignored His Word, and spent years in bondage as a result.

  “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2Chronicles 7:14)”   “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD… (Psalm 33:12).”

  Thanksgiving is probably the least commercialized holiday on the calendar.  Perhaps it is because, in spite of the efforts of some who would have us deny our Creator and direct our thanksgiving to comrades and evil companions on this horizontal plane, Thanksgiving has traditionally been associated, in the minds of most Americans, with God—the Supplier of our great bounty.

  But last year’s presidential proclamation for Thanksgiving is a good example of how far our nation has drifted from the moorings established by our forefathers:

  “We are grateful for our family and friends and for all of our fellow Americans, even those whom we may never meet but rely upon nonetheless.  We are thankful for the scientists, researchers, doctors, and nurses who have kept us safe through a pandemic, and for the frontline workers who have kept essential services going by growing and providing food for our tables.  We are grateful to faith leaders for their counsel, comfort, and support.  We thank our brave service members and veterans who sacrifice so much for our freedom, and the first responders who put so much on the line to keep us all safe.  As Scripture says:  “let us rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances.”  This is a special time in the greatest country on Earth, so let us be grateful.  America is a great Nation because we are a good people.  This holiday, we celebrate all that brings us together, grounded in history and our shared hopes for the future.”

  What is the missing element?  It is God—who created and sustains all that is, and upon whom we are utterly dependent.  While we are certainly grateful to those who serve us, we must acknowledge that America was great because America served a Great God.  Americans have done great things because of their dependence upon their Great God.  Thanksgiving is about God!

  “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (James 1:17)”