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 The
Birth of Jesus Was As Follows... By Steve
Higginbotham
At this time of the year, more will be said about the birth of Jesus
than at any other time of the year. Yet, each year I can’t help but
be a bit disturbed by all the biblical ignorance and inaccuracies
associated with the birth of our Savior. When it comes to one of the
most fundamental tenants of Christianity, the incarnation of Jesus,
and one of the most pivotal historical events that ever occurred, I
find that many cannot discern between fact and fiction. As
fundamental as the birth of Jesus is, people do not really know the
account of his birth as well as one might think.
Doubt me? Then give the following “True/False” quiz a shot and see
how well you do...
True or False The angel Gabriel appeared to Joseph to inform him
that Mary was with child.
True or False The Bible says that three wise men came to the manger
to worship and give gifts to Jesus.
True or False The Bible says that an unknown number of wise men came
to the manger to worship Jesus.
True or False The wise men were kings from the Orient.
True or False A bright star appeared in the sky and led the
shepherds to the manger.
True or False A bright star appeared in the sky and let the wise men
to the manger.
True or False The shepherds and the wise men were present on the
night of Jesus’ birth.
True or False The translation of the word, “Immanuel” is “Savior.”
True or False Jesus was born in Jerusalem.
True or False An innkeeper told Mary and Joseph that there was no
room in the inn, thus Jesus was born in a manger.
Okay, so how well did you do? If you answered any of the questions
with a “True,” you were mistaken. Every statement is false for one
reason or another. Open your Bible and check it for yourself.
What I have discovered through the years is that it is surprisingly
easy for us to believe as fact, what is in reality, fiction.
Furthermore, this “fiction” is sometimes propagated by religion.
How many church lawns and “Christmas” re-enactments will portray a
nativity scene which inaccurately portrays the biblical account?
But now here’s my point: If we can be misinformed about something as
fundamental as the birth of Jesus, what’s to make us think we cannot
be misled regarding other religious matters?
Friends, make sure your faith is not based on what others have told
you is true, but rather make sure your faith is based on what you
know to be true from your own personal study. Let the “fiction” you
see perpetuated on church lawns and in church pageants this holiday
season be a reminder and a warning to you to do your own Bible
study, and to never be content with what others say.
“Prove all things; Hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).~
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 Confusing
Pleasure With Happiness
by Kevin Cauley
Have you ever finished a good book wishing there were more to the
story? Have you ever watched a movie leaving the theater
unsatisfied? Perhaps after a good meal you've wished there were more
to come. Such things clearly provide us with momentary pleasure, but
our desire for more belies our unhappiness. Why are we so unhappy in
our society today? We are the most prosperous nation on the earth
yet one out of every four individuals in our nation has some kind of
depression. What are we doing wrong?
Are we confusing pleasure with happiness? Many feel that their
personal happiness rests upon having one pleasurable moment after
another. They reason that they simply aren't happy unless each
moment is filled with pleasure. We need to stop thinking this way
and look at happiness differently. Happiness does not depend merely
upon having pleasurable moments, but rather, upon whether or not we
are content or satisfied with the moments that come our way. In
other words, I don't have to feel pleasure from something in order
to be happy. Is this a strange concept to you?
The word "pleasure" connotes the idea of enjoyment due to momentary
gratification. The word "happiness," however, contains the idea of a
prolonged state of satisfaction and contentment associated with
one's overall circumstances. We ask, "Are you happy?" and we mean by
that question to know about one's general conditions in life. We
ask, "Are you pleased?" and mean whether one is satisfied with a
particular item.
Happiness is a state of mind. We can be happy regardless of the
situation we are in. Paul said in Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in the
Lord always: again I say, rejoice." We can control our state of mind
by focusing upon happy things. Pleasure, however, is a feeling
experienced in the body. The Proverbs writer said, "He that loveth
pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not
be rich" (Proverbs 21:17). The Hebrew parallel here indicates that
loving pleasure is the same as loving "wine and oil," things
associated with bodily pleasure. As Christians we are to focus upon
the spiritual, not the physical (Colossians 3:2).
Happiness rests upon contentment. Paul tells Timothy in 1 Timothy
6:6 "But godliness with contentment is great gain." One blessing
that comes from contentment is an indescribable happiness which
cannot be easily subverted. On the other hand, pleasure is often
driven by boredom or being malcontent. When we are malcontent we
seek for something to stimulate our senses so as to create bodily
pleasure. We simply end up unsatisfied after the experience has
ended, or craving more in an addictive like behavior. Solomon
experienced this as recorded in Ecclesiastes 2:1 "I said in mine
heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy
pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity." Proverbs 14:13 states,
"Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth
is heaviness." Let us learn contentment if we desire to be happy.
Happiness is satisfied with "clean fun." It is interesting that the
word "fun" is not in the Bible. We do find, however, that God "gives
us richly all things to enjoy" (1 Timothy 6:17). In that regard,
God's gifts are pure and unadulterated. James 1:17 states, "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." On the other hand, pleasure often delves into
sinfulness. Paul spoke to Timothy of a time when men would be
"lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God" (2 Timothy 3:4) and
the Hebrew writer spoke of Moses who chose not to "enjoy the
pleasures of sin for a season" (Hebrews 11:25). Sinful activities
may produce pleasure but ultimately provide no lasting happiness.
Let's resolve to seek happiness regardless of our circumstances, to
base our happiness upon contentment, and to enjoy the good things
God has given while shunning sin in our lives. By so doing, we can
avoid confusing pleasure with happiness. ~
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