Christmas is Ours

Christmas time! A time when the entire world is confronted with the birth of Jesus Christ! Even the most casual observer knows this season is about Him. He’s really at the root of the whole thing. Who was this Jesus Christ? God and man all in one; how could that be? A virgin birth; surely you jest! The King of kings entering humanity in a manger, the Creator of everything entering His own creation; that doesn’t make sense! What did Herod the Great have against this peasant baby? Why a manger, the shepherds, the angels, Bethlehem, the wise men? What’s the point of this whole story?

The world has to face up to the reality of sin, man’s fall and the need for a Savior. That’s what Jesus is all about, and He claimed He is the Savior.

My, what an opportunity to engage people in the true and eternal implications of Christmas! At the core of this story is sin, fallen sinners and sin’s consequences (both mortal and eternal), but the story doesn’t end there. It’s also about the love of God for lost, perishing sinners, about forgiveness and eternal life. Christmas is all about a Savior, a unique Messiah who could somehow satisfy the justice of almighty God. Christmas is about the love of God, but it’s also about the justice and judgment of God. It’s about poverty, hatred and injustice, giving and forgiving and faith. It’s about rejection and simplicity and hope for hopeless mankind. Beyond the grave! It’s about “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

Christians, Christmas is our time, our holiday. Oh yes, the world exploits it: to sell everything from toys to cars, to drink more liquor, to party and to do a lot of things that no man should do. Brothers and sisters don’t be distracted or derailed by the exploitations and add-ons. Stay with the pure and beautiful realities of the Christmas story.

What a pity that some good, sincere Christians get caught up in a few pagan mixtures and get all blown out of shape by Santa Claus, Christmas trees, gifts and reindeer! In their distraction they miss a golden opportunity to spread the true message of Christmas! Brothers and sisters, we have the high ground. We have the message of hope; nobody else has it. Nobody! Christmas is ours! Rather than an ugly-spirited attitude, how much better it is to have a song on your heart and lips and a glow about you that reflects the difference a meeting with Jesus Christ makes in a life! Instead of a defensive stance about all that’s wrong with Christmas, it’s so much better to tell the truth about Christmas! And yes, there’s a lot of great truth in the Christmas story. It is truly beautiful, meaty and life-changing.

Tell your kids. Tell your friends at work; it’s still legal to do so. The Bible says, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15). If there ever has been a perfect platform for doing this, it’s Christmas time. Many of our peers are doing their best to kick Christ right out of Christmas. No carols in public schools, no manger scene on the courthouse square, Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. God forbid that we sit idly by and squabble among ourselves while it happens!

Ours is the greatest story ever told. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:11-14). Now that’s something to shout about! This is no time for political correctness. Go, tell it on the mountains; Jesus Christ is born! It is truly a life-changing story.