Genesis is known as the book of beginnings. In it we find the first mention of many things: sin, death, marriage, childbirth, prayer, rain, etc. The book begins with creation and ends with a coffin in Egypt.

Joseph dies at 110 years of age. He served the Lord until the very end. As he lay dying, he gave his brothers orders that they are not to bury him in Egypt, but are to carry his body to Canaan when the Lord brings them out of this land. They were to place him in a humble coffin to await the day when he would be taken home!

The message of the coffin still speaks to us today. It is unlikely that any of us will live to be 110. Pause and think about that for a moment.

A phrase was placed on a tombstone in California:

Pause, stranger, when you pass me by,

As you are now, so once was I.

As I am now, so you will be,

So prepare for death and follow me.

Someone passed by and read those words and scratched this thought on the stone:

To follow you I’m not content,Until I know which way you went.

In light of all this, we must remember some things:

● Life is shorter than you think.

● Life doesn’t end at the grave.

● Life is a time to prepare to meet God in eternity.

● If you’re going to serve the Lord, you’d better get with it.

So why be a downer with your blog at Christmas, Preacher? Well, I don’t see that as a downer at all. Jesus came as a beautiful baby boy . . . to die.

Jesus died and passed through the grave on His way back to the Father’s House. And by virtue of the trail He blazed, we, too, have a hope of a glorious future when we place our faith/trust in His finished work. He came in order that He might die for you. Merry Christmas!

Today we have something better than a coffin in Egypt to remind us of hope for tomorrow. We have an empty tomb in Israel!

Don’t miss the message behind the manger this year.

Pastor Bret