Post hoc ergo propter hoc (Latin: “after this, therefore because of this”)

These past few devotionals have been aimed at the coming Christmas season. I have been wondering what to follow up with after this trip down memory lane. Post hoc means after this and it spurred a memory of which this quote was given and the associated meaning. It is called a logic fallacy. The inference being that everything that happens after an event is caused by an event. When it comes to Christmas I must disagree with the label of logic fallacy. In this case I believe everything that happened afterwards is caused by this one event.

Hebrews 1:1-2 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

If you believe as I do that Jesus is the Christ, sent of God, died on the Cross, was raised from the dead, ascended into heaven and sits upon the throne, then He is heir to all things. The only way this could happen is if the first event caused all the others. The ergo propter hoc, therefore because of this, is because He came with power and purpose.

The prophets proclaimed His coming with purpose. The angels herald His coming with purpose.

Matthew 1:20-23 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.