For many people, Christmas is simply a holiday season for time with family and friends. “Merry Christmas” has been replaced by “Happy Holidays” on buildings, in front yards and in various publications across America. The politically correct view is that we must not offend any non-Christians by using the word Christmas in any positive context, even though over 80% of Americans call themselves Christian. Does Christmas matter or should we just relegate it to another secular holiday?
Even though Christmas has not always been celebrated by the Christian church or in the same way we celebrate it today, I believe Christmas matters. The Bible does not teach that we should celebrate Christmas, yet it has multiple accounts of what happened at Christmas and teaches us why it matters. You see the origin of Christmas is not just about the birth of the founder of Christianity. No, Christmas is about much more than that, for Jesus was not just a good, moral teacher.
Christmas matters, because on that night in a small Palestinian village 2000 years ago, God came to earth in human form. The God who created the universe, who flung the galaxies into place, who created you, was born as a flesh and blood baby. Colossians 1:15 (NLT) Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, 16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see– such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. When you looked at that baby born on that first Christmas night, you saw the invisible God. The most incredible event in human history took place on Christmas.
Jesus grew up, taught us about God, died on a cross and rose back to life, so that a rebellious humanity might have an opportunity to have a relationship with their creator. You see, Jesus didn’t come into the world for no reason. He came because He loved you and wanted you to fulfill the purpose He created you for. 1 John 4:9 (NLT) God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. Eternal life is simply a relationship with God that begins in this life and lasts forever.
I think what happened at Christmas 2000 years ago is something worth celebrating, it’s something worth teaching your children and it’s something worth telling everybody you know about. Anybody who doesn’t understand why Christmas matters is missing the point of life and the point of eternity. Christmas matters. I wish you all a Merry Christmas!
Today, we are concluding our message series “Dealing with Difficulties.” In this series, we’ve looked at how the Bible teaches us to handle the tough times that we all have to face. As we finish the series, I hope you’ve noticed that we are now not just focusing on difficulties. Last Sunday, we talked about “The Joy of Thanksgiving.” As you focus on God and His power through thanksgiving, you gain strength and joy to face life’s difficulties.
Thanksgiving is almost here. Thanksgiving is a time for family and food. Lots of it, turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. God has given us both family and food to enjoy, yet I believe there is something else He wants us to learn this Thanksgiving. It’s a lesson that is not just for one day of the year, but something you can practice every day. Thanksgiving is not meant to be about us, it’s meant to be about God. He’s the one that we are to thank. He’s the one that we are to be thankful to.
It seems to me that these days a lot of people are overwhelmed with life. What I mean is that just the task of making an income and holding together a family is too much for many people. The average credit card debt is $10000 per family and rising, despite most families having two wage earners. On the relationship front, about 50% of marriages end up in divorce. One of the current presidential frontrunners is on his third marriage, as is his current wife. My point is that the simple things of life are simply overwhelming many people.
