When I was a young girl, I sang the chorus, “He’s got the whole world in His hand…” never really understanding what it meant. I think I always knew that God created the world, regardless of the number of days it took Him to do so, but why would He hold the world in His hand. After I read John 3:16, I began to understand. I have paraphrased John 3:16. For God loved the world so much, that He sacrificed His only Son to die on a cross so that whoever believes in the Son will never die but will live with God forever. God has us in His hand, but He gives us free choice. Free choice actually means we can choose to be His children through His Son Jesus, or we can deny Jesus and take the consequences regarding eternity. Jesus came to earth at Christmas as a newborn baby. Thirty three years later, after having been crucified to pay for the sins of all mankind, He rose from the grave having conquered the power of sin over man forever. His salvation from sin is a gift, and like all gifts, it is waiting to be received. This year receive Him if you have not done so, and know what it meant when we say, “Jesus is the Heart of Christmas.”