A few weeks ago, I randomly started thinking about “genuine leather.” I know it sounds a little weird, but I guess I have always appreciated genuine leather. The feel, the smell. (Oh . . . The smell!) I love boots, work gloves, and a genuine leather belt beats a faux/synthetic who-knows-what belt any day of the year.
I thought about why those words, “genuine leather,” were engraved somewhere on most genuine leather products. There are many types of manufactured and created leathers that look or feel very similar, but they are not. They look good, but cost less to make and therefore are used as an alternative to the real deal. Without some good research, you may just pick up a wallet that you thought was genuine leather, only to find out later it was merely synthetic.
You may be wondering now if this random thought process of mine goes anywhere valuable! The truth is, I was thinking about writing this email as I looked over my Bible and ran my fingers across its cover thinking how nice the leather cover was (I do get distracted easily sometimes). I also thought that this email was going to be in December, when we celebrate the greatest gift ever known to mankind. A gift of genuine love. A real gift that had no hidden motives or strings attached, a free gift to all who would just accept it.
I love Merriam-Webster’s definition of genuine: “actual, real, or true: not false or fake.”
I know that there will be many gifts given this Christmas season, but there is only one gift that won’t leave you feeling empty. It’s a real and true gift.
Here’s the genuine gift:
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
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. (John 3:16)
It’s a good reminder for me and I hope that every time you see the words genuine leather, you will think about God’s great gift of genuine love to us all!
