The Everyday Club

12/25/09 Jaime, about 30
"Merry Christmas!" At a gas station I greeted a fellow customer at the gas pumps and gave him a million dollar bill tract. He laughed and we talked some about Christmas and family. Jaime had been putting new toys together for his young children and was out looking for batteries and other parts. I explained the purpose of the tract and told him that I want to see him in heaven one day. He is Catholic and believes himself to be good enough for heaven, but the mirror of the Ten Commandments helped him to see his true position as a lawbreaker before God and deserving of punishment due to God's justice. He readily agreed to this, but really didn't know why Jesus had come into the world that first Christmas. He saw Jesus as a teacher who brought peace to all people, and the cross as an example of Christ's humility. I told him that the Bible says that it was much more than that - Jesus was God's sacrifice for all who will trust Him in place of the punishment we deserve. He allows us to have peace with God, for "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us". (Romans 5:8) It's a mistake to think that all people are God's children, but because of Jesus "all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" (John 1) Jaime was very appreciative of this conversation as we both headed back home to be with our families.