Four Christmas Presents

FOUR CHRISTMAS PRESENTS Four Christmas presents were laid down so very long ago, The very first ones to be given of which that I know. Seemed not to be much to those ones who may have gathered round And saw what had been lying there so neatly on the ground. A little child perhaps would cry about the gifts received, But oh, how valued are these gifts to those who have believed! The first was gold, and it spoke out of royalty divine-- Not many living in that day this gift would ever find. The second was a fragrant smell that speaks of all the prayers That ever went from all mankind until that night so fair. The third was perfume for the dead, a bitter, poignant scent, And yet it spoke of a future day of that final, small present: It wasn’t wrapped in paper fine and all tied up with bows, Nor was it clothed in majesty with royal garb or clothes. Just simple swaddling clothes it had to keep its body warm, But oh, this gift was best of all to be laid there that morn! This gift was God incarnate come to us by virgin birth To rescue men from sin’s sad curse that had been brought to earth. Some still today will scoff this gift and say, “It’s not for me, I’ll make it on my own somehow, you can just wait and see.” Yet you will find the roads are closed to heaven other ways; The only way to its reward is through God’s saving grace. Trust then, my friend, now in these gifts: the gold of Deity, The frankincense of prayer to Him for His salvation free, The myrrh of bitter death for you upon the cross that day, The Son of God all wrapped with love to take your sin away.