Christmas is approaching. What a joyous season as it commemorates the advent of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, given to the world to bring us salvation.

I look forward to the Christmas holidays greatly. My inward joy is explained by the Christ of Christmas and it is my privilege to extend to each of you a very Merry Christmas. It’s a time of giving; a time to remember that God gave all He had.

I’ve never been on the battlefield but am so grateful for all those who have risked life and limb for our nation and our families; and it even gets more personal in that I know I wouldn’t be writing you tonight if many lives had not been expended to rescue my own. Indeed, I feel indebted to those who have sacrificed for me. They are heroes in my book.

Some war heroes have given their lives on the battlefield for their comrades, literally taking a bullet or a blast for a fellow warrior in order to protect the life of that comrade. Some are rightly decorated for their sacrifice and deserve our lasting gratitude.

My Hero with a capital “H” is Jesus Christ. When I consider that He came down from heaven to earth to go to the cross to take the spiritual bullet for me in order to rescue my soul for all eternity, I’m left speechless. The King James Version of the Bible, in 2 Corinthians and verse 15, states:

“Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.”

Further, consider the words found in the Scripture, Romans 5:8 (New International Version):

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

It’s an incredible act of love for one to stand in the gap for a comrade; it’s beyond comprehension when one lays down his life for someone living in opposition to him.

I love what the Scripture says in I Corinthians: 5:21 (New International Version):

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

God had us totally in mind when He sent His Son into the world at Christmas over two thousand years ago. His purpose was clear; to pay off our sin debt to Him so that He could grant us life forever with Him.

His purpose is stated plainly in John 3:16 (New International Version):

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

The Word of God says “whoever believes”; you know, I’m sharing this with you today. Yet, there was a time when I had not believed on Jesus Christ. The fact I’m writing this tonight testifies of the reality of God’s love and life-changing power.

Jesus took that spiritual bullet called sin that would have destroyed me eternally and there was a time when I didn’t accept Him for what He did for me. But today I live to tell anyone who will listen that He conquered sin and the grave forever, that He’s alive, and is my Hero with a capital “H.”

This is what Christmas means to me.

It is my prayer that God blesses each of you and you indeed have a joyous Christmas this year.