By Jim Golden

As I sat and watched the Christmas presentation at my church called The Glory of Christmas, I was entertained by the antics of the little ones in the children’s choir, by the dramatic presentations and just the overall excellence of the orchestra and adult choir.  It was a fairly good performance, but there was one moment in the dramatic performance that peppered the whole evening that changed and is changing my life.  It is not something new that I have never heard before.  A similar scene is probably to be found in every play, movie or dramatization about the birth of Jesus ever done.  But, if we are fortunate enough, once in a while, the breath of God will take a phrase, a picture, a stranger’s voice or some very familiar thing in our lives and make it extraordinary!

Such a thing happened to me when the young lady portraying Mary, the mother of Jesus, was going through her monologue with the Father.  She was overtaken with excitement that He had chosen her to carry His Son.  She spoke of how amazed she was the He would so trust and honor her to do such a thing.  Then all of a sudden I realized that I was Mary too!  What I am trying to say is that our Heavenly Father has so honored and trusted each of us to carry His Son in the womb of our hearts—an aspect of salvation that I, being a man, have never quite grasped with the same clarity I did at that moment.

I once wrote an article saying that I believed in reincarnation, not in the traditional sense, but in the sense that the incarnate Christ was reincarnated in each one of His redeemed.  At that moment of revelation I was, however, overwhelmed with the reality that I didn’t choose Him, but that He chose me.  Scripture echoes the same words in the Gospel of John. 

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.  John 15:16

Suddenly I realized how fortunate we are that we have even come to a place that we can see and believe in Jesus our redeemer.  Another verse suddenly sprang to life in my heart which was also from John’s Gospel.

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:44

Even our choice to follow Jesus takes on a whole new meaning in light of such an experience and Scripture.  When I saw the humility portrayed by Mary at being chosen to bear Christ in her body the Holy Spirit’s conviction hit me so hard I was overwhelmed.  It brings a whole new concept to the meaning of sanctification.  It exposed a pride in me that made me sick to my stomach and over the next few days tears of repentance and cries for forgiveness and mercy filled my quiet times.  I do not know if I can express this newly found gratitude and intimacy that fills my soul.  All I can do is agree with those who have glimpsed the unfathomable mercy of God throughout history—who am I that the God of all creation would choose me to carry His Son in my body.

God singled out Mary from all the inhabitants of the earth to carry His Son.  His choice to allow you and me to carry His Son is no less significant!  If you do not know Jesus, the Glory of Christmas, and His Father is choosing you now, will you accept this greatest honor?  Salvation is not a wholesale event.  Jesus said that the gate was narrow that led to eternal life and few they are that find it!  I have never felt so unworthy of such an incredible honor, so humbled and grateful all at the same time.  I pray that this New Year truly become a New Year in your walk with God.  Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

In His Love,
Jim Golden

Home
Articles
Brothers In Arms
Contact Us