The Christmas season has finally reached it’s climax, and with New Years fast approaching, in a few days the season will be all but over. The celebration of Christmas is always so long approaching, so widely anticipated, only to fade away so quickly. Billions of people prepare for this celebration all throughout the month of December, or even November if you’re like some people I know. By the time we finally get to the day itself however, it comes and goes so fast we barely take the time to breathe, and Christmas was once again, not what we expected.
The arrival of Christ, the coming Messiah, for the followers of the God of Israel was the most anticipated event in the history of the world. God’s people had been waiting thousands upon thousands of years for the anointed one to make his move. They were expecting a strong, flashy, firework type king that would overturn the Roman government and carry them on his back into a kingdom that he would forever rule over. But by the time Christ came as a baby, grew up, did three years of ministry, was betrayed, beaten, and hung on a cross, most people hadn’t taken the time to stop and breathe, the Messiah was not what they expected.
Too often, gifts from God come and go and we don’t take the time to stop and recognize them. But we need not despair at this, because the gift Christmas is never out of season. The same goes for the gift of Christ the Messiah. We know from scripture the Christ is alive and well and living in each and every one of us, as is the Christmas spirit.
Throughout the month of December I’ve been reflecting on what Christmas is really about. After much quiet, prayerful time, I have come to the conclusion that Christmas is simply about all of the things that everyone says it is. Hope, love, family, giving, joy. The only difference is that we use Christmas as an excuse to celebrate these things when the only excuse we need is the fact that Christ, our Savior was born thousands of years ago, and he is still alive today, and what he stands for is still alive today, and what he celebrates is still alive today. Christmas is a reminder of a celebration that should be happening year round. A celebration of hope, love, family, giving, and joy that doesn’t stop on December 27th but pours out of our hearts and our homes for the entire year.
This year, as the Christmas season comes to a close, do not let the spirit of Christmas come to a close in your heart. Continue the celebration, continue the hope, the love, the family, the giving, the joy, and help keep Christmas alive.
-jon
