To God, Christmas entails

I came across a poem a few years back that basically puts all of this Christmas cheer into perspective. I'd want to present it to you right now.

What if this year for Christmas, I put Santa on the back burner, skip the Frosty movie, and give Rudolph a break from his sleigh ride? Perhaps then I'd forget about those things and listen for the clapping noises of angels' wings that terrified the shepherds in the night. And maybe I'd start to glow like that ancient Eastern star, and wonder like those three wise men who came from far away. Not simply a passing nod, but to respect Him. "What Christmas meaning to God," I'm going to ponder this year.

All of this commotion began a few weeks ago when the Gameboy 3 was released for a select group of consumers who lined up with cash in hand, and a lot of cash at that. It caused havoc, with some individuals dying, some being robbed, and others becoming even wealthier by selling their possessions on eBay. Murder, covetousness, lust, and envy are only a few of the forbidden crimes that sprang from this. This is reason enough to take a step back and consider what is wrong with this picture. God certainly did not intend for us to behave in this manner like heathens. What happened to the peaceful, joyous, and loving spirits that Christmas is supposed to bring out? We've turned into the Three Musketeers, exclaiming, "All for one, and one for all!" But Christ is the only One who came for everyone; it's simply that we're not all for Him.

Our human nature has taken over, and we are putting Christ on hold. In actuality, a spiritual battle is raging right in front of our eyes, yet we are too preoccupied with our lustful natures to see. If we do not wake up and take notice of our own behaviors soon, we will lose the ability to even wish someone a "Merry Christmas." Christ is being pushed out of this beautiful time of year; in case you weren't aware. To avoid offending anyone, we ridicule Him by saying "Happy Holidays." Is it really innocuous? Yes, in the end, it will hurt everyone. Why should we expect Christ to continue blessing us for our carnal wants if we consent to remove Christ from His own birthday, which represents redemption and freedom to anybody who receives it? God will not reply because we have effectively told Him that we do not require His assistance. It will be too late one day. But, for now, there is still time. Don't squander it.

Why am I so sensitive to this? Because it is a personal problem that should be treated as such by everyone. Our Lord will reject us to His Father as long as we lose sight of the Savior and run after our own selfish gods of pleasure, denying the Christ of Christmas. We need Christ at Christmas and in our daily lives because no one else can save us. If we don't, all of the things we're striving to achieve and consume on our own will be our undoing, which isn't very wise. Before you dismiss this idea, examine what the apostle John is warning us about in this letter:

"Do not be enamored with the world or its contents. If someone loves the world, he does not love the father. For everything in the world, including the passion of the body, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life, comes from the world, not from the father. The world, like its lusts, will pass away, but the one who does God's will live forever." 15-17 in 1 John

"It's not sinful to love the world; God wants us to love everyone," you might say. However, God makes it clear that He despises some sorts of love. Love for the earth and its possessions is devoid of God. It is a container for one's own self. God's love for us is a righteous love, as evidenced by the birth of His Son Christ at Christmas. This type of love is characterized by tenderness, perfection, and dedication to the father who first loved us. This is something that love for the world does not provide. The universe isn't made up of physical or material objects; it's made up of an evil spiritual system that controls our very souls. Satan is a master of deception. He's been in this industry for thousands of years, after all. Unless we have a personal relationship with Christ, we are his pawns. Then we see how devious Satan may be to people who aren't paying attention. How well-aware are you of his deceptions, lies, and schemes? He adores this time of year in particular. He enjoys it when we overspend, attend Christmas parties, and consume excessive amounts of alcohol. Believe me, if you get a DUI, he won't be there to help you get out of it. Rather, he's moved on to another topic, claiming that his work there is over. He leaves you with the burden of living with the repercussions of your actions, and he will continue to remind you of your errors. Christ, on the other hand, is reaching out to you, saying, "If you just believe in Me, I will make all things new." Because He previously paid for your sins, Christ will never remind you of them. At the Cross, it was completed. It is impossible to love both the world and God at the same time. To love the world is to oppose the God who sent His only Son to die for you and me.