Sad Irony

For a panoramic view of the entire site, see http://www.salaj.net/

As a church, we went to a special place in Croatia where over a million "Christmas" lights are set up. This is an amazing sight.
It is indeed brilliantly decorated and beautiful. There is even a manger scene to celebrate the birth of Christ, and the name "Božićna Priča" (Christmas Story) over the entrance.
The sad irony in this is that it is done in a country where most do not realize that Jesus came to die to pay for all our sins. Sadly, for the most part, the people of Croatia worship Mary rather than the Saviour, and believe that good works will eventually earn them a place in heaven.
They do not realize that the birth of Christ was not Mary's miracle, but God's miracle. They do not comprehend that Mary has no power to save, but only Jesus saves. They fail to realize that Mary also needed the Saviour, just like the rest of us.
This display shows that people can know a few facts concerning a historical event and completely miss its true meaning and value. We can have something in our head, but until we understand it with our heart, we are lost and without hope for heaven.
The fact is that we are all sinners in need of the Saviour, Jesus Christ.
We must receive Him in our hearts to be saved, realizing that He alone can save us and take us to Heaven. Our good works, baptism, church membership, and charitable giving are all polluted by our sin, making us unworthy to be with God. Only the blood of Christ can cleanse our sin and assure us of eternal salvation.
I am saved, and headed for heaven. How about you?

Evanđelje po Luki 19:10 Jer je Sin čovječji došao tražiti i spasiti ono što je izgubljeno.
Druga Poslanica Korinćanima 5:21 Jer ga je on učinio grijehom za nas, njega koji nije upoznao grijeha, da mi u njemu postanemo pravednost Božja.
Poslanica Rimljanima 3:23 Jer su svi sagriješili i ostali bez slave Božje, Evanđelje po Ivanu 3:16 Jer je Bog tako ljubio svijet da je dao svoga
jedinorođenog Sina, da svaki koji u njega vjeruje ne propadne, nego ima život vječni.
Djela Apostolka 4:12 Nema spasenja ni u kome drugom, jer nema pod nebom drugoga imena danog ljudima po kome mi trebamo biti spašeni.

(Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
2 Cor 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other
name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.)