WHY GOD CAME TO EARTH: THE STORY OF THE GEESE (Author Unknown)       There was once a man who didn't believe in the incarnation of Christ or the spiritual meaning of Christmas, and was skeptical about God.  He and his family lived in a farm community.  His wife was a devout believer and diligently raised her children in her faith.  He sometimes gave her a hard time about her faith and mocked her religious observance of Christmas.  "It's all nonsense - why would God lower himself and become a human like us?  It's such a ridiculous story!", he said.     One snowy day, she and the children left for church while he stayed home.  After they had left, the winds grew stronger and the snow turned into a blinding snowstorm.  He sat down to relax before the fire for the evening.  Then he heard a loud-thump, something hitting against the window.  And another thump.  He looked outside but couldn't see.  So he ventured outside to see.  In the field near his house he saw, of all the strangest things, a flock of geese!  They were apparently flying to look for a warmer area down south, but had been caught in the snowstorm.  The storm had become too blinding and violent for the geese to fly or see their way.  They were stranded on his farm, with no food or shelter, unable to do more than flutter their wings and fly in aimless circles.     He had compassion for them and wanted to help them.  He thought to himself, the barn would be a great place for them to stay!  It's warm and safe; surely they could spend the night and wait out the storm."  So he opened the barn doors for them.  He waited, watching them, hoping they would notice the open barn and go inside.  But they didn't notice the barn or realize what it could mean for them. He moved closer toward them to get their attention, but they just moved away from him out of fear.  He went into the house and came back out with some bread, broke it up, and made a bread trail to the barn.  They still didn't catch on.     Starting to get frustrated, he went over and tried to shoo them toward the barn.  They panicked and scattered into every direction except toward the barn.  Nothing he did could get them to go into the barn where there was warmth, safety and shelter.  Feeling totally frustrated, he exclaimed, "Why-don`t they follow me?  Can't they see this is the only place where they can survive the storm?  How can I possibly get them into the one place to save them?"  He thought for a moment and realized that they just wouldn't follow a human.  He said to himself, "How can I possibly save them?  The only way would be for me to become like those geese.  If only I could become like one of them!  Then I could save them!  They would follow me and I would lead them to safety."  At that moment, he stopped and considered what he had said.  The words reverberated in his mind: "If only I could become like one of them- then I could save them."  And then, at last, he understood God's heart towards mankind, and he fell on his knees in the snow and worshipped Him.
Amendment by Bill Stevenson:  Jesus Christ gave up a wonderful home (Heaven-- the New Jerusalem) to come to Earth in human form to live with very low income for about 33 years to die in a horrible way to pay for our disobeying God's Law.  The closest parallel example of this would be as follows: Let us imagine you saw a line of ants on their way towards a cliff.  You tried to get them to change their direction in every way you could without killing them or picking them up.  (Parallel to God's dealings with the human race in the Old Testament.)  Then, you asked God to make you into an ant.  He did, but still the ants did not want to accept your advice because you were a stranger and too nice.  So to save all of the ants, you had to go the front of the line and walk off the upcoming cliff to show them the danger by example.  John 3:16 says that God the Father sent His only begotten Son to die so that each human could have eternal life with Him and His special love if he or she believed that Jesus Christ died for his or her sins.  Sadly, many humans refuse to believe and of those who believe in the Gospel don't become consecrate children of God.  And only God's Word "will not come back void."   WHAT JESUS TRANSFERRED TO US (by Ron Lewis, slightly edited by Bill Stevenson)   Christ was born ONCE,      so that we could be born TWICE (born again). Jesus took all our DEMERITS,      so that we could have all of His MERITS. Jesus became POOR,      so we could be RICH IN FAITH AND HOPE.  [2 Corinthians 8:9] Jesus became HOMELESS,      so we could have A HEAVENLY HOME. Jesus was STRIPPED OF HIS CLOTHING on the Cross,      so that we could be          CLOTHED WITH HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS (the righteousness of God). Jesus was FORSAKEN,      so we would NEVER BE FORSAKEN. Jesus was SAD,      so that we might be made ETERNALLY GLAD. Jesus became a SERVANT,      so that we might become CHILDREN OF GOD. Jesus who KNEW NO SIN, WAS MADE SIN FOR US,      so that human beings might be          made THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD THROUGH HIM. Jesus DIED,      so true Christians could have ETERNAL LIFE.  [John 3:16] Jesus ROSE FROM THE GRAVE,      so that true Christians could OVERCOME DEATH.  [1 Corinthians 15] Jesus Is COMING AGAIN (to take us with Him),      so that true Christians can have          HOPE NO MATTER WHAT CHALLENGES THEY ARE FACING.   IF YOU HAVEN`T ALL READY,      INVITE JESUS TO COME INTO YOUR HEART TODAY,            TO BE YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR NOW AND FOREVER!
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