WHAT CHRISTMAS IS

     Christmas is Christianity. It stands out, as does Easter,
as a "sore thumb" to those who would oppose Christianity. Man
may try to suppress it; he may corrupt it, change its meaning,
provide substitutes for it, or in a hundred other ways attempt
to lessen its impact; yet it remains. And it always will remain,
to the end of time. As prophesied 500 years before Christ came,
"the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the
Lord, as the waters cover the sea." (Habakkuk 2:14) And though
men and nations may hate, suppress, and reject this knowledge,
they are powerless to make it cease. Even nations dedicated to
hating Jesus must acknowledge that Jesus did live and teach!

     The world has (and will continue to have) no substitute for
Christmas. It may offer anything from crass materialism to empty
sentimentality. It may introduce distractions and substitutions.
It may claim that the "true meaning" of Christmas is "love and
good will," or some other abstract, nebulous concept. Indeed,
there is often truth in what it says - the lie occurs in what it
doesn't say: It mentions what is secondary and ignores (often
suppresses) the primary significance. Furthermore, what it does
say, it is POWERLESS to accomplish. People may say "peace and
love" in December (often while half-drunk), but when January
comes, they go back to hating, back-stabbing, and cutting each
other's throats!

     Christmas is a celebration of joy. It is a celebration of
joy for what God has done - not only two thousand years ago, but
now and in the future. All other legitimate (secondary) meanings
are possible only because of this.

     Two thousand years ago, God did exactly what he promised he
would do. He fulfilled, to the exact detail, the many hundreds
of promises he gave to mankind, over a period of several
thousand years. At that time, God took the form of a man.
Although he was by very nature deity, Jesus Christ humbled
himself and took the nature of a man. Although he was (and is)
the Sovereign Lord over all creation, he became a servant.

     The birth of Jesus Christ is not the only thing we
celebrate. He was born so that he might one day die as a ransom
for many - that they might not receive the wrath they deserve.
Although he was sinless, he bore the sins of us who follow him.
He was born so that he might one day rise from the dead - thus
guaranteeing new (and eternal) life for those who look to him
for salvation. He changes our lives, and continues to change us
throughout our lives - enabling us to begin to have authentic
love and goodwill toward others. He was born so that, having
himself died and risen from the dead, he might come again and
judge the living and the dead. At that time, "every knee shall
bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is LORD."
(Philippians 2:10-11) For those who follow him, it will be a
time of excitement and joy. For others, it will be the first
time they face the reality of who Jesus is ... but it will be
too late.

     Christmas is a celebration of joy - for those who belong to
God, for those who accept and follow his ways. Its historic
authenticity (the fact that it did truly happen as God said it
would) is a permanent guarantee and reminder that everything God
promises for the future shall also come to pass. For those who
do not know God or follow his ways, it is a solemn warning of
future events; but more than that, it is an offer of life for
those who might listen and turn to God - that they, too, might
share in our joy.





1986 (C) Dennis Hinks
This may be freely copied.