Abraham was called the friend of God. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego experienced Christ walking with them through the fiery furnace. The Lord appeared to Manoah and his wife, Samson’s parents. And Jacob wrestled with God. But as close as these people were to God, they weren’t as close to Him as we could be. How is that possible? Jesus didn’t live inside their hearts, but He does live inside the hearts of Christians, inside the hearts of those who have committed their lives to Him. The apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Colosse, “And this is the secret: Christ lives in you” (Colossians 1:27 NLT). Here is the remarkable thing that we need to realize: No one is closer to God than those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ. The real message of Christmas is that God came to Earth, and we’re not alone. When we get hold of that message, all other things won’t matter as much as they used to. Of course, we can celebrate Christmas and enjoy it as much as anyone else, but if we focus on what it’s really about, it becomes so much more meaningful. The essential message of the birth of our Lord is that we’re not alone in this world. Yes, Jesus came to Abraham, Jacob, Samson’s parents, and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in a preincarnate appearance. But one day, God came to this world as a child, who grew into a man, died on the cross, and rose from the dead. Jesus has always been there, and He will be there to the very end. He said, “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20 NLT). The real message of Christmas is not presents; it’s Jesus’s presence. Jesus is Immanuel, God with us. | 
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