JESUS CHRIST...OUR WONDERFUL SAVIOR

Over 1900 years ago there was a man horn in this life of humble parentage, in a small corner of the earth, about 50 x 100 miles in size. His parents were inconspicuous, uninfluential and uneducated. He was born in a stable probably with the cattle and laid in a manager wrapped in swaddling clothes. In his humble life he never wrote a book, but more books have been written about him than any other person that ever lived. He never led an army but more loyal followers have stacked arms at his command than of any marshal or general in history. 1le never posed to have his portrait painted on canvas or to have his features chiseled in stone but he has been the inspiration of more art than any other person of all time. He never spoke on a public address system, radio or television, but he spoke the worlds into existence.

There was nothing about this man that we would cal1 him great according to our standards of greatness today, but yet, through his humble ministry of three years in that small corner of the earth, he left such an impression on us that today years hence, we count time from his birth and celebrate his birthday and resurrection every year. In infancy, he startled the King; in childhood, he puzzled the doctors of learning; in life, he was misunderstood; in death, he was forsaken by God and man; but Herod could not kill him; Satan could not seduce him; death could not destroy him; nor the grave could not hold him. He stands forth upon the highest pinnacle of heavenly glory, proclaimed by God, acknowledged by angels, adored by saints, and feared by devils as the living personn1 Christ. This man, as you know, is none other 'than our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, God's Son, the Messiah of the Jews, the Savior of the world, and the Head of the church.

To the astronomer, he is the bright and morning star, and the son of the Righteousness with healing in his wings. To the botanist, he is the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the Valley. To the archeologist, he is the Rock of Ages, To the philanthropist, he is the great gift of God. To the student of zoology, he is the Lamb of God chat taketh away the sins of the world and the lion of the tribe of Judah that is able to break every fetter. To the architect. carpenter and builder, he is the one and only true foundation.

To the student and reader of the Bible, he is the Creator of Genesis, the Deliverer of Exodus, the sacrifice complete of Leviticus, the Prophet like unto Moses in Deuteronomy; the Captain of the Host of the Lord in Joshua; the Kinsman redeemer of Ruth; the Theme of the beautiful Psalms; the Messiah foretold by the Major and Minor prophets; the king of Mathews's gospel; the Servant of Mark; the Savior of Luke; the everlasting God in the Gospel of John; the Resurrected, Glorified, Enthroned One leading the Church on to glorious victories in the Acts of the Apostles; our Righteousness in Romans; our Wisdom in Corinthian; our Sufficiency as Fulfiller of the law and ordinances in Galatians; the Heat of the Church in Ephesians; our Joy in Phillipians; the Fullness of the God heat bodily so that we are complete in Him in Collossians; the Coming One in Thessalonians; our High Priest in Hebrews; the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and Ending, the Victor over Satan, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords in the Book of Revelation. What a wonderful Savior, what a wonderful book, the Bible. It contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are Holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable.

Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, practice it to be holy. It will; furnish light to guide you, strength to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the Mason' s light and the Christian's charter.

Through it Heaven is opened, paradise it restored, and the gates of hell disclosed. The Messiah is its grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end. Read it slowly, frequently, prayerfully. If you will obey its precepts it will be you a river of pleasure, a mine of wealth and a paradise of Glory. It will furnish you in life to prepare for the judgement, and as you choose, so shall your destiny be in prosperity or adversity.

May you never forget it. Then when Death's cold windsshall blow around you, and its icy dew shall gather up on your forehead, you will drop to sleep with the sweet assurance that when awakening comes, you will be pronounced a Just and upright Master Mason, by hi''' who sits at the right hand of our Heavenly Father, a mediator and intercessor for all who put their trust in him.