It will be observed that our schedule has made the regular date for this issue of the paper come on December 25—on Christmas day.
It is quite generally considered that Christmas is to be observed in honor of the birth of Christ, and yet most people know that He was born several months earlier in the year. It would seem that it was the direct design of God that the exact day of the birth of His Son should not be known. The exact day of His birth is not the fact that is of interest to the lost sinner. That Christ did actually come into the world, and that He has actually made a way by which every one may be rescued from sin, is the great fact that we all need to know, and this is the great fact that should be constantly kept before the world by His followers. "Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." 1 Tim. 1:15.
The Christian people of no denomination do not, nor have they ever presented Christmas to the world as the exact day of the birth of Christ. But all Christians do unite in presenting to the world Him whom they have found—the One who has saved them from their sins. They present Him as the One who is able to save to the uttermost all who will come to God thru Him. They present Him in confidence, for they have found in their own experience that He is an ever-present Saviour.
The Christian who is following closely the prophecies that Jesus gave is looking forward with great joy to the privilege of personally meeting Him very soon; for all the prophecies unite in showing that the second coming of Christ is very near at hand. Those who have learned to know the Master, and who know from His word that His coming is very near, have a joy in their hearts all the time that is simply beyond the powers of description. It is always well to study anew the story of the Babe in Bethlehem, and it is also important to study the promises which show that He who is the Desire of all nations is due to appear on earth again at a very near-by day.