GOD DISPLACED!

TO US A CHILD IS BORN, a Child, who in his Manhood would DIE for us ALL, that we might be FORGIVEN.   And we are used to seeing pictorial images of His Birth as portrayed opposite - Mary and Joseph - centre with the Baby Jesus - the Shepherds and the Kings, all come to worship their Saviour.  Very traditional illustration, with Jesus centre stage, God's Gift to mankind.   The most necessary and invaluable acquisition to and for the life of EVERYONE.  
O COME LET US ADORE HIM..!

No, not in this photo.  No Holy Babe in the Manger here, but a RED BAG!!***   The photo above depicts Joseph and Mary (centre) seated behind the 'crib (table) in the 'cattle shed.' three 'wise men / kings' on the left and the two shepherds on the right all worshiping.   But not worshiping the infant King, soon to come again, but a RED BAG manufactured with the fashionable <Mulberry> label.
One Commercial venture to sell their product - but not with GOD in mind.     Of course the 'Advert' is intended to put the 'BAG' centre stage, and in such a way, to suggest its unique desirability to both rich and poor.    A bright idea?  Perhaps but totally irreligious and without any fear of God, or respect for those that do. Will the 'Bag' provide the need of a guilty soul, or the despair of a lonely soul?   Can it truly be seen as a necessary and invaluable acquisition for my life....surely I CAN do without it, and suffer no loss; surely this BAG is no more than a bag full of air, soon to wear out, and having to be replaced; a bag of wind, vainglorious, and worthless to the salvation of my life, my eternal soul.     How totally shocking and disastrously IGNORANT to put such a BAG, or any other bag or thing for that matter, in the place of Jesus Christ, in place of the Holiness of a Living God.   It is hugely sacrilegious and irreverent.
I pity those who invented this dark picture of commercial acquisitiveness.   I pity their blindness and lack of understanding.

This is the World at its worst.     It is so regardless as it shunts God out of His place and fill the space with material lust and vanity.
Such a GAUDY RED bag.      Did the 'Maker' also want to fake the Blood of Christ?   Well, no cheap piece of plastic or leather coloured red could ever do that, and it is BLOOD, real BLOOD alone that is able to take away the SIN of the world from your life and mine.    And not just any blood but INNOCENT BLOOD; blood without the taint of any evil - and WE have all sinned.  Our blood, in which is our life, IS tainted.   None of US can ransom another.  NO, only the blood of Christ, from Christ bleeding for us on the Cross can avail.
Only His life poured out willingly for us, can save or ransom us out of the hands of the Devil and Evil.      Only Christ is to be worshipped in the Manger - not some flimsy, idolised label on a BAG.

Well but I pray those who put this advert together will one day see the truth that is in Christ, and repent, and find forgiveness.   I do myself forgive them, but am distressed for them, for they encourage an outrageous concept and appreciation of all that Christmas and the Manger stand for; they desecrate and vandalise it with their red bag graffiti.

CHRISTMAS will soon be here again.    Christ's symbolic Birthday.   We should be remembering HIM, we should once more be bringing him some evidence of how we think of him like the Shepherds and the Kings........ Will you be bringing anything to lay before Him?......or will you, as the majority will, hope to get something for yourself, nicely wrapped, beneath the Christmas Tree?    I am sure there will be a number of red bags received....
Much good will they or any other thing, apart from Christ Himself, do for any of us.     Only He will do......and every year I look for Him above all other to fill and satisfy my life.    And HE never fails.     A curse on these abominable bags, and upon the deceit that turns the minds of men and women away from what alone is valuable..more valuable than the finest gold.