I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between her seed and your seed and her seed. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.     Genesis 3:15

This Scripture passage is considered to be the first mention of a Savior who will crush the serpent’s head and be bruised by his heel. This foretells the story of Jesus’s birth which provides redemption and salvation from our sins. In His death and resurrection, Jesus defeated sin and death.

Adam and Eve’s sin was no surprise to God. And neither is ours. From the beginning God had a plan.

When the sin on earth became so great in Genesis chapter 6, God wanted to destroy all He had made. Then he thought of Noah. Noah was a righteous man. So, God gave Noah a plan to build a huge ark to save himself and his family and two of each kind of animal so that the earth could be repopulated. God helped Noah prepare a way that they might be saved from the flood.

When God’s people were enslaved in Egypt, God prepared a way for them to leave. He sent Moses. When Pharaoh hardened his heart, God sent the death angel through the land. He had them pass over all the houses with the lamb’s blood on the door.

Today, it’s the blood of the lamb that saves us from our sins. Our sins are covered by Jesus’ blood.

Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth and the life and no man comes to the Father except through Me.” Jesus was God’s plan for our redemption. Through His Son, Jesus Christ, God prepared a way for us to spend eternity with Him in heaven.

If we go to hell, it’s our choice. We can accept Jesus as our Savior and surrender our lives to Him. Or, we can choose to deny God and spend eternity in hell. Now, it sounds like a no-brainer, but plenty of people will choose hell. Jesus said in Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.”

In Matthew 7:21 Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven.”

Since the creation God has prepared a way of salvation for His people. He does not force us to take His path. He gives us free will. I don’t know why anyone would purposely choose to go to hell, but I think plenty of people don’t understand that we serve a God of discipline. We serve a God that doesn’t just give us a free pass. We must choose which path we will take. Will we take the narrow path God has prepared that leads to heaven? Or will we choose the broad path?

As we get caught up in the bustle of the Holiday season, we must not get so busy celebrating Christmas that we forget what it’s all about. It’s not about the gifts and the parties and the food. It’s about the way God has prepared for us to get to spend eternity with Him. Most importantly, it’s about the choice we make. Will we put Him first? Will we remember this baby was born to die for our sins. He was born to go from the cradle to the cross. Or will we leave Him in that manger? Will we forget the reason He came to earth?

The harsh reality is Jesus was born to die for you and me. His blood was shed to save us from our sins. I beg of you to be ever mindful of this as you go through the Christmas season. Trust in Him. Surrender your life to Him. Never forget that God has prepared the way, but you must take the right path.

Have a great day!