Mankind has been celebrating Christmas for centuries now. The word Christmas has its origin from the Latin, “natalis”, meaning birth.
“Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:11 NIV
This is where true Christmas begins, with the birth of our Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.
What could make such a special occasion devoid of meaning?
1- THE ABSENCE OF JESUS.
2- CHANGE OF FOCUS
3- WHEN THERE IS NO REAL WORSHIP OF JESUS.
Illustration:
One day, during the Christmas season, a presenter, on his national radio program, asked a young woman who was participating over the phone: What would you like to get this Christmas? The young woman quickly answered: a big hug from the birthday boy.
The presenter, astonished, replied: what birthday boy? And the young woman meekly said: Isn’t today the birthday of Jesus Christ?
We must not forget that the feast is his and for him, so he cannot be absent! Unfortunately many have forgotten Jesus. Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. Jesus is the reason why we celebrate Christmas.
This fact narrated by the Word of God happened more than two thousand years ago, however, it has never lost its essence and power, every day we still celebrate this birth.
However, every year new shapes, styles and new decorations are created in an attempt to make Christmas more authentic, more fun, more attractive and more joyful. Despite these attempts, Christmas is losing its lustre, its joy and its meaning.
The joy of Christmas, for the vast majority, is the same as any other festivity. We can’t settle for the kind of Christmas celebration we’re experiencing these days.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2 NIV
Why not settle?
Because, what we see is a mixture of light, music and commerce in motion where the supply and demand of gifts just keep on increasing. Christmas is much more than all this.
How wonderful was that night in the lives of those shepherds, for they received the news of our Saviour’s birth.
What can make Christmas devoid of its real meaning?
- THE ABSENCE OF JESUS
- A) The sign given by the angel to the shepherds to celebrate their first Christmas was the sight of baby Jesus.
How do you commemorate someone’s birth without their presence?
Sadly, Christmas is mostly celebrated without any reminder that Jesus is the Christ, the Saviour and Lord.
Nowadays it is a sad but true fact that in Christmas parties, Santa Claus, food and drinking have replaced Jesus Christ in the hearts and minds of many people.
Now look at God’s warning in his word to us.
“Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.” Romans 13:13 NIV
- B) This substitution in people’s hearts and minds is not accidental.
For Paul writes that Satan is the only one who wants to do it.
“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:4 NIV
The devil, with his cunning, has been using people, businesses and commerce, to lead adults and children away from Jesus Christ and toward Santa Claus.
The absence of Christ, the substitution of Jesus in the Christmas celebrations, are two factors that have made Christmas lose its meaning in people’s hearts, and it has been a tragedy for humanity.
You get gifts, you eat, you drink, you admire the decorations, you watch the guests, the decorations on the tree, but what about Jesus?
I would like to read two texts.
“Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” 1 Corinthians 10:7 NIV
“Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.” Philippians 3:19 NIV
There is nothing wrong with celebrating a party, the difference is in the intention, who we do it with, and who we do it for.
The problem is in the absence of Christ and the substitution of God in what should be his own celebration.n
When our worship isn’t God-centred, then it becomes a pagan festival where God isn’t pleased.
I believe that God does want us to celebrate Him. But as he wishes, as he wills, as he demands, with his presence and without being replaced.
Let’s look at what Moses writes.
“The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘These are my appointed festivals, the appointed festivals of the Lord, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies.” Leviticus 23:1-2 NIV
God expects us to celebrate it and rejoice in it, that was God’s command,
“Three times a year all your men must appear before the Lord your God at the place he will choose: at the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks and the Festival of Tabernacles. No one should appear before the Lord empty-handed” Deuteronomy 16:16 NIV
What was God’s idea in the deliverance of the people from Egypt? It was to celebrate him with the feast of liberation.
“After that, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the wilderness.’” Exodus 5:1 NIV
I repeat, there is nothing wrong with celebrating a party, the problem is the intention of our hearts and where it is turned, and the way we do things.
Jesus cannot be absent from our Christmas celebrations, He is the birthday boy!
Our Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, is born.
What can make Christmas devoid of its meaning?
- CHANGE OF FOCUS
It is very common in the month of December to focus on Christmas shopping. We must buy gifts, groceries, decorations, Plan family gatherings, think of our friends, relatives, Santa Claus, etc. We think of everything, except Jesus.
Everything that is done at Christmas should be directed to Jesus, all attention should be directed to him.
“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2 NIV
Many children and adults have learned to go to the wrong source to recieve gifts, they are encouraged to behave well during the year for the wrong reasons, and learn to love material possessions rather than love God above all things.
Children grow up learning from an early age to love material things, to try to get as many toys as possible, selfish gestures.
All as a consequence of believing in this pagan myth of Santa Claus. Jesus is the reason of Christmas, He is the meaning and center of Christmas.
Christmas without Jesus is a pagan feast. Take away the decorations and Christmas remains, take away Santa Claus and Christmas remains, but take away Jesus and Christmas will cease to exist.
The birth of Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord, is the reason to celebrate Christmas.
What makes Christmas meaningless?
- THERE IS NO REAL WORSHIP OF JESUS
When you learn about the deliberate reason behind the myth of Santa Claus, you will realise how easily people can be led astray by believing and participating in this story.
“On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:11 NIV
Satan’s purpose is to divert your focus from the true meaning of Christmas.
Now, understand one thing: God does not go where He is not worshipped. And much less, where He is replaced.
So God knows where He is worshipped, so if Jesus is absent it’s just a pagan and idolatrous festival.
Understand that we are not talking about physical objects of worship. Rather, it is a replacement or the absence of Jesus.
Isaiah said, “This people honours me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they worship me in vain.”
This fact is just another example to shows how we are living in the last days of great deception and coldness of hearts.
Along with the many other signs of the end times, this love of the idea of a pagan symbol, such as Santa Claus is just another clear sign of the end.
Conclusion:
A Christmas feast where the Lord Jesus is not worshipped is an empty, meaningless feast, without the Grace of God, it becomes an entirely carnal, empty celebration that does not feed the heart or the soul, only the stomach.
Therefore, you can change this situation if you believe that Christmas exists because of Jesus.
Christmas is the day God sent you the greatest and most important gift anyone can give.
This Christmas can turn out to be the best Christmas of your life if you receive the gift God has prepared for you: Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord
And this shall be a real Christmas, you will have peace with God and peace in your heart, a kind of peace that nothing and no one in the world can offer.
The way Jesus becomes part of your Christmas is for you to forsake and confess your sins to God, and by faith declare that Jesus’ death have paid for your sins.
For he is the King, the Saviour who was born in a manger, died on a cross, but rose again, and is at the right hand of God interceding for us.
May God bless you.