2 Corinthians 5:19 – God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. (NIV)

One Christmas, my brother and I received a new game: Monopoly®. We played that game with our best friend, Michael, for many, many years thereafter. It was a game which I found uninteresting and a real bore. In fact, I still do. Back then, however, nearby friends were limited, so I was stuck with my brother and Michael, who always chose to play Monopoly®, so I did, too.

There was one good thing about the game, however — the best thing ever, really — the card, if we were lucky enough to draw it, which read, "Get out of jail free". This card was a lifesaver, for if we landed on a space that sent us directly to jail, we couldn't collect $200 for passing "Go". To get out of jail, we either had to pay $50 or roll doubles on one of our next three turns. If we didn't, we still had to pay $50, and it often made the difference between winning or losing, depending on how much money we had.

Thinking back and having a laugh over these memories made me think of another "Get out of jail free" card, so to speak, that God offers to each and every person, not only at Christmas, but all year round.

Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NIV)

Christ came into the world to pay the penalty for our sin, a penalty that sentences mankind to eternal separation from God, Who is light, into the eternal darkness of the jail of hell for eternity. God, in His mercy and love, however, chose to offer us all a "Get out of jail free" card through the work that Christ did on the cross, when He bore our sins in His own body, so that by grace we might be saved, not by our own works but through faith in His.

Therefore, because of Jesus and the free gift of salvation that He offers to one and all, no one ever needs to be separated from God and bear the consequences of their sin, the penalty of death and the darkness of hell, unless they choose to do so.

What do you choose this Christmas: the "Go directly to jail" card of life, or the best thing ever, which Jesus freely offers to all who choose to trust in His name, repent of their sins, and accept the grace of His forgiveness and salvation forever? The choice is up to you. But if you stop and think about it, you will agree that there's really only one choice worth making.

Prayer: Father God, thank You so much for Jesus and for the free gift of eternal life that He offers to all, right now, here today. Open the hearts of mankind, worldwide, to make the only real choice worth making. In Jesus' name, we ask. Amen.

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About the author:

Lynne Phipps <lynnephippsatlin@gmail.com>
Tawatinaw, Alberta, Canada
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