Whether speaking with Christians or those who have yet to discover the one true Christmas Gift from God, there is always great interest in the things that God has kept hidden for his children to search out.  In particular, the subject matter "666", has been of immense interest.  For, "It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter." (Proverbs 25:2)

The necessity for Christmas, Christ's birth, life, death and resurrection, is made clearer when we understand Proverbs 20:27, "The spirit of man is the candle of The LORD, "as quoted above.  When God created Adam and then Eve, they were made in the image and in the likeness of God (Gen. 1:26).  In other words, they were complete.  They had eternal life. Their candle was not just wick and wax (two thirds; 0.666), but it was wick, wax and Fire - triune.  God, who is Spirit, communed with them through the union of His Spirit with their spirits, until Eve and Adam's disobedience. "For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out"  (Proverbs 24:20).

At that point, because God is holy, the Holy Spirit separated from their spirits and all further communication had to be from the outside.  Adam and Eve's candles were put out and there was absolutely nothing they (man) could do to bring back the Holy Spirit.  It is for this reason Abraham was stopped from sacrificing Isaac. Isaac was just another human being and therefore hardly worth the equivalent of the whole human race.  Remember, "A just weight and balance are the LORD’S: all the weights of the bag are his work."  (Proverbs 16:11)

 Nevertheless, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God"(Luke 18:27).  Because God is love  (1Jn 4:16),  the Creator of everything and everyone, became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14).  Being God, Jesus Christ, unlike Isaac, is worth more than His whole creation (Colossians 1:16).  In His love for us lost sinners, He died a horrible, yet necessary death on Calvary's cross in order to redeem the entire human race back to Himself. The reason for Christmas was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out from heaven to those who waited for the promised Gift from God.  More importantly, this Gift is still today given, to every heart who, at the preaching of the Gospel, will appropriate Christ's shed blood over the door post of his or her own heart.  Having received the Holy Spirit, his or her candle is once again lit.  John the Baptist said, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, ... he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:"(Matthew 3:11).   We are restored to completeness - lacking nothing.  We return to God's original intent - to be made in the image and likeness of God.  "And ye are complete in Him," (Colossians 2:10) 

"For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness." (Psalm 18:28)

May the true Gift of Christmas, be yours this day and forevermore, and may the precious Lamb of God receive the entire reward of His suffering on our behalf. "And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever." (Revelation 22:5) Amen! 
Brother John+