Stealing Christ from Christmas
Over the last 15 years I have always had a unusual reaction to the winter holiday season. I got sick, sick physically, emotionally, and spiritually. At a time when most people claimed to see the seasons joy, I saw in people the season's pain. I instinctively expected to see old women in Macy's almost going to blows over the last gift on sale. I knew crowed public transportation would be filled with disrespectful, inconsiderate and just plain old mean people, out not to express the beauty and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, but the selfishness of prideful, peer-pressured gift giving season, symbolized with an imaginary figure in a outdated red and white suit. Can we give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endurtheth forever? Is that so hard to do? Isn't it what we are supposed to be doing? More Children know the fable of santa clause than the Life and ministry of Jesus Christ. They are forced to accept the fantasy story of a fat man coming down a chimney ( even in houses where there is no chimney) over the truth of the manifested Word of God, One perfect and without sin who would take up the sins of the world that we may be reconciled back to God. We decorate our houses with reindeer and sleds, trying to express the Christ-mas cheer to our neighbors, but our hearts are as far from God as the Children of Israel after leaving Egypt.
We have wanderd for not 40 years, but 400 years in a desolate spiritual place where there is no God in our hearts. Will God erase all these generations as he did those that first left Egypt? I see even men of God that think we give gift on this occasion because, because of the three wise men! Yes they are wise, but we are not. Let our gifts giving be not about our personal love for one another, but as a symbolic presentation of the the obedience of our Lord Jesus Christ. When will we come to the realization that his life is the perfect gift for all man kind, so we may return Back to our Father's House.
In our time of trouble was it santa that redeemed our lives from destruction? Did even one elf reconcile us back to our heavenly father? Which of us us cry unto santa in our time of distress? Can he save us from destruction? Can he send his word to heal us? No, none but my God, none but my Lord Jesus Christ could give of himselve for our salvation, only Christ Jesus!
Maybe you will say I'm takeing this a little too far, it's not that extream Troy, but Jeremiah 23:27(KJV) says "which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal."
See we have forgotten the name of Christ Jesus and replaced it with Santa Clause this imaginary person from out of the dreams of men which is told to every child. But we keep the name of Christ Jesus out of lips, out of our schools, our work places, out of our homes, and eventually out of minds we completely forget the Name of Christ Jesus, for any other name that does not hold us accountable.
I pray that this season we would praise the Lord for his goodness, for his wonderful works, I pray that we will exalt him in the streets and from the highest hills, let us praise him in the assemblies and among all the people. because Christ Jesus is worthy to be praised.
