17 Dec What Christmas without Christ? by Deacon Abiodun Adebisi
Christmas is truly “the most wonderful time of the year.” That song blaring on most television and radio channels at this time captures the mood of the season. I hope it does the reason for the season.
It’s the end of the year when everyone could do with a well-deserved holiday or visit friends and family, give their homes a make-over, display beautiful Christmas lights, exchange greeting cards and give gifts to loved ones as well as the needy as a gesture of “goodwill toward men” (Luke 2:14 KJV).
God loves all that because love is his nature. The scripture says, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1John 4:8 NIV). In fact it was the love of God for mankind that propelled Him to send his only begotten Son to the world as propitiation for our sins, that He might redeem us, for we lost it big time with the disobedience of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. What the scripture says is, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 KJV).
However, it’s not our gesture of goodwill that gives us right standing before God. It’s our intimate relationship with him. The scripture likens all our righteousness to “filthy rags” before God if we fail to take advantage of the redemption from sin for which Jesus Christ came into the world (Isaiah 64:6 KJV). The significance of his birth lies in his mission. That’s what makes Christmas Christmas.
The eating and drinking and general Christmas merry making is good, no doubt. But is Christmas an opportunity to sleep around and drink to stupor? Far from it. In fact, that contradicts everything Christmas stands for. The kingdom of God is not about that, “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Romans 14:17 KJV). Righteousness is of the Lord, his peace is beyond human understanding and it is he who gives joy that keeps flowing like a river (Isaiah 54:17; Philippians 4:7; Psalm 46:4). Let’s remember this as we sing, “Joy to the world…”
In case you’ve been seeing your goodwill as a passport to heaven, think again. That mindset is what the scripture describes as “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof…”, a characteristic of the last days (2Timothy 3:5 KJV). The word of God says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV). You can’t possibly please him without faith (Hebrews 11:6). Your faith in God is consummated when you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus (Romans 10:9-10 KJV). That’s how to be saved. It’s as simple as that.
The world may laugh at you as you do this. Let them laugh. It’s because the only means of reconciliation to God which he himself approves looks foolish to the world: “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” (1Corinthians 1:18 KJV).
Accepting Christ is the best decision you will ever make and you have no reason to be ashamed of the gospel. Apostle Paul boldly declares, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth…” (Romans 1:16 KJV). This admonition comes with a stern warning from Jesus though: “But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven” (Matthew 10:33 NIV).
One more thing that Christmas is not. It’s not about ghost stories or supernatural tales. There’s only one story which the scripture captures so vividly:
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” (Isaiah 9:6-7 KJV).
What Christmas then without Christ? Let’s bear in mind the reason for the season as we celebrate. Merry Christmas!
Deacon Abiodun Adebisi
Deacon Abiodun Adebisi, a National Officer with The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) writes from the United Kingdom.
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