Two days before Christmas Day

 

                                                                FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

 

Well, it's two days before Christmas Day and I have reached the point of no return.  As in, I will not "return" to any shopping center for anything.  To put it bluntly, if I haven't gotten it for you, you ain't going to get it.  I'm ready to just sit in my recliner, wrap up in my "blankie" and turn on the football games.  The only thing I'll get up for is more chips, dips and sodas.  And then, only if there's no line for them.  If I never see another traffic jam, over-flowing parking lot or checkout line it'll be too soon.

 

Now, lest you think that I don't like the Christmas season, you're wrong.  I do like a lot of things about it, but also there are some things that I don't.  In the category of "likes" are the feelings of good will and cheerfulness that are present now but seem to be absent the rest of the year.  And, I like the music even though I get sort of tired of it towards the end.

 

I like the tradition of gift-giving, but not for the presents themselves.  What I really appreciate is the principle or the thought behind them.  And the cost of the gift isn't what's important either.  The important thing about the gifts is that someone thought enough about another person to get (or make) something for them.   The old cliche, "it's the thought that counts" is absolutely true.  We'll return to "gifts" before we close.

 

Another thing that I like about this season is that it seems to draw people closer together in a good way.  Not as in traffic-wise.  I just wish that this attribute would be seen throughout the whole year instead of just a short season.

 

What I don't like are the crowds, the traffic problems and the ill-will brought on by those things.  It's just sad that one has to experience states of hostility between folks who are supposedly trying to spread cheer and good will.  Somehow this seems conflicting to me.

 

I guess that what I'm getting at here is that I'm not a "bah humbug" or "anti-Christmas."  I just don't believe that this holiday and season has anything to do with the actual birth of Christ.  Or, that we have any directive or inference in the B9ible to celebrate it as such.  I believe that history will reveal it to have been a pagan holiday that was adapted by the Roman church in about 330AD and from then on to be worshiped as the birthday of Jesus Christ.

 

Without any Scriptural evidence, many believe that December 25th is the day that Christ was born.  Therefore, they look upon this date as a "religious" holiday that's to be observed with special worship services.  If we're true to the Scriptures, we will understand that there is no command or inference given for Christians to worship the day of Christ's birth.  If that had been commanded, or even suggested, we'd have also been given the time to do so and not left with the adoption of a Roman pagan holiday to do so.

 

 

Yes, the Scriptures do tell us ABOUT the birth of Christ and where it occurred, but the significance of His birth is not the date of it but rather, how it was accomplished.  It's the circumstances of His birth that proves that Jesus of Nazareth is truly the expected Messiah because they fulfill the prophesies of His coming.  In modern parlance, the circumstances of his birth established His "bona fides."  Example: Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would be born of a "virgin.'  (Isa. 7:14)

 

They also confirm the prophesies regarding where He would be born (Bethlehem, Micah 5:2) and His family lineage, IE: the tribe of Judah.  That is the significance of His birth - the fulfillment of all the prophesies regarding it which prove that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ - the Messiah.

 

So, is it okay for me to enjoy this season, this day?  I certainly believe so, as long as I understand it to be a "non-religious holiday similar to the other holidays of the year.  The Christian's worship of Christ as the Savior of the world is a year-round, 365 day celebration with emphasis on the sacrifice of His life on the cross and the significance of that event rather than His birth.

 

I said that we'd return to the topic of gifts and the giving of them so this is the point at which we'll do just that.  Yes, this is the season for the gift-giving between friends and loved ones.  But, rather than worship a day chosen by man as His birthday, I believe it more important to worship the day of His death because that was the greatest "gift" ever given. 

 

It was on that day that God allowed man to kill His "only begotten Son" on the cross of Calvary.  The sacrifice of His totally innocent and sinless Son so that, by this act, a "gift" was given to all mankind.  Romans 6:23 tells us exactly what that "gift" is: "But the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

 

What better "gift" could ever be given?  Oh, we give our loved ones gifts during this season, but they're only gifts of a transient nature.  They don't last.  But, can you imagine a recipient of a gift refusing to accept it?  Or refusing to open it?  Hard to imagine, isn't it?  But, here's something else that's hard for me to comprehend.

 

God gave His loved ones a "gift" that will last forever.  A "gift" more valuable and more precious than any other.  And there will be many who refuse to accept or open it.  For those who do open their "gift" from God I echo the words of Paul, written to the Corinthians:

 

                                        "Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift."  (2 Cor. 9:15)

 

Respectfully submitted,

Ron Covey