AN EMPTY BOX

Memories from childhood Christmases never leave. Today I was remembering one from when I was four or five. One grandmother lived in Oregon. She would send a box of wrapped presents to us kids. The gifts would go under the Christmas tree with the rest until Christmas morning. We took turns. It came my turn to open the present from Grandma. I ripped off the wrapping paper. I don't know if it was taped or what, but it took some tugging to get the lid off the box. Suddenly with a jerking release the lid came loose from the bottom of the box. I peered in expecting some delightful gift. Instead, I saw nothing. The box was empty! Tears well upped in my eyes. I cried. I couldn't help it. My young mind was rushing, "What kind of Grandma do I have to play a joke on me by sending me what appeared to be a Christmas present but was nothing but an empty box. Does she dislike me?" My parents and sibling began laughing. That really helped. Then one of my parent's explained. "When you jerked the lid off the box, the present flew out so fast you didn't see it and is buried in the wrapping paper lying around on the floor." Then someone dug into the paper and pulled out a pair of house shoes Grandma had knitted me. Grandma wasn't a cruel prankster after all. No, but the world is. Sins are wrapped in the most promising packages. People grab the pretty package with anticipation of pleasure. But, once they've ripped off the veneer and gotten into the box, there is nothing to it. They are left with only shreds of their torn lives and an aching emptiness in their hearts. Sometimes it isn't that the box of sin is empty but that it is filled with venomous vipers, ticking bombs, corroding acids, and other destructive things. God's Gift, first wrapped in swaddling clothes, was a child who would be Savior. Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift!