Another Christmas is upon us and we will soon be deeply entrenched, for better or worse, in all of the traditions and festivities that make this time of year memorable. Soon the day will come, that for children everywhere is shrouded in mysteries like, how could Santa really get down that chimney when a raccoon got stuck in there last year. And, who really cares anyway as long as all of this neat stuff is showing up under our Christmas tree.
Have you ever wondered why such an important event as Christ's entrance into the world would be retro-fitted with flying reindeer, elves, and a jolly old man who grants every child's materialistic fantasy? Believe it or not, the answer is found in Scripture.
Have you ever wondered why such an important event as Christ's entrance into the world would be retro-fitted with flying reindeer, elves, and a jolly old man who grants every child's materialistic fantasy? Believe it or not, the answer is found in Scripture.
"In Him [Christ] was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it . . . He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him" (John 1:4-5,10-11).
Jesus said, "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you" (John 15:18).
You see, the truth about Christmas is too convicting and uncomfortable for many. In fact, from the very beginning of Jesus' life, attempts were made to kill Him (Matt. 2:16-18, Rev. 12:3,4). It's no wonder that we continue to see subtle attempts to neutralize and cover the truth about Christmas. The world "can't handle the truth"!
You see, the truth about Christmas is too convicting and uncomfortable for many. In fact, from the very beginning of Jesus' life, attempts were made to kill Him (Matt. 2:16-18, Rev. 12:3,4). It's no wonder that we continue to see subtle attempts to neutralize and cover the truth about Christmas. The world "can't handle the truth"!
The truth about Christmas is too convicting and uncomfortable for many.
Nevertheless, there are three great truths about Christmas that must permeate all of our traditions and festivities. The first truth is that people are sinful in the eyes of a holy God and in desperate need of being saved from His wrath (Romans 3:23, Hebrews10:31). The biblical story of Christmas makes this very clear saying, "You shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sin" (Matt. 1:21). The Apostle Paul said, "It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners," (1 Tim. 1:15). In other words, while the saying "Jesus is the reason for the season" sounds nice, it is really a deceptive half truth. Man's sin is really the reason for the season, and Jesus is the answer for sin's cancer. The naturally prideful human heart does not want to be reminded of this Christmas truth year after year.
The second great truth about Christmas is that God came down. When Jesus Christ came into the world, God visited His creation. Not since the creation of the world had God so intimately walked among His creation. The biblical story of Christmas says, ". . . they shall call His name Immanuel, which translated means, God with us" (Matt. 1:23). Philippians says that "Jesus existed [before coming] in the form of God" (Phil. 2:6). Hebrews explains, "He [Jesus] is the radiance of His [God's] glory, and the exact representation of His nature" (Heb. 1:3). This truth is also intolerable to the world. Imagine it; if Jesus Christ is God, then God really does exist. Not only that, if God really did come into the world in the person of Christ, then not only does God exist, but He is involved with His creation. Even more frightening, --He must see us, know us and we really are accountable to Him! (John 5:27)
The second great truth about Christmas is that God came down. When Jesus Christ came into the world, God visited His creation. Not since the creation of the world had God so intimately walked among His creation. The biblical story of Christmas says, ". . . they shall call His name Immanuel, which translated means, God with us" (Matt. 1:23). Philippians says that "Jesus existed [before coming] in the form of God" (Phil. 2:6). Hebrews explains, "He [Jesus] is the radiance of His [God's] glory, and the exact representation of His nature" (Heb. 1:3). This truth is also intolerable to the world. Imagine it; if Jesus Christ is God, then God really does exist. Not only that, if God really did come into the world in the person of Christ, then not only does God exist, but He is involved with His creation. Even more frightening, --He must see us, know us and we really are accountable to Him! (John 5:27)
If Jesus Christ is God, then God really does exist, and we then really are accountable to Him.
"No", says the world, we think Santa is much less threatening, thank you.
The third great truth about Christmas is that of God's love. Despite our estranged, wayward and lost condition, the Bible says, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten [unique, one of a kind] son, that whoever believes in [trust into] Him will not perish but have everlasting life" (John. 3:16). God's love for a lost world, and His longing for those who would ultimately come to Him, is the real truth about Christmas. But we must be careful never to separate this truth from the others. For to separate God's love from His holy and righteous judgment, would simply create another subtle deception about Christmas. The truth about Christmas is God's provision of salvation: His Holiness determined it; His Justice demanded it; His Love desired it; His grace and mercy demonstrated it; and His Word has declared it. Christmas is but one thing. God came to "seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). Don't let the Truth about Christmas escape your notice this year.
The third great truth about Christmas is that of God's love. Despite our estranged, wayward and lost condition, the Bible says, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten [unique, one of a kind] son, that whoever believes in [trust into] Him will not perish but have everlasting life" (John. 3:16). God's love for a lost world, and His longing for those who would ultimately come to Him, is the real truth about Christmas. But we must be careful never to separate this truth from the others. For to separate God's love from His holy and righteous judgment, would simply create another subtle deception about Christmas. The truth about Christmas is God's provision of salvation: His Holiness determined it; His Justice demanded it; His Love desired it; His grace and mercy demonstrated it; and His Word has declared it. Christmas is but one thing. God came to "seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). Don't let the Truth about Christmas escape your notice this year.
~ Pastor Cliff
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