Good morning,
Could it be that we have forgotten the reason that God has given us the true story of why we should be celebrating Christmas? For those in the world around us, this is the time of year when we get and give lots of gifts, spend time with our families, watch our favorite sports, have hectic schedules for parties and holiday events and try to give poor people something nice for the holidays. We are also flooded with what is actually fake news about what we must do and buy and think about to add confusion to the season. Of course then, there is the problem of paying for it all and the depression that comes when the holidays are over. For those of us who have a church background, it’s even more interesting. We are reminded of all the names of Jesus, the prophetic verses that were fulfilled and the necessity of Jesus’ life and death and resurrection to make salvation possible for all who will believe. As Christians, we usually add most of our cultural activities into the mix so that by the end of the season we are glad to get back to normal life again. Is it possible that our Enemy has taken eternal truth and twisted it into fake news for us as well? Could it be that after all that activity we are no more in love with Jesus or affected in our daily walk with God then what we were before the celebration?
Could it be that the Apostle John was used by God to remind us of something else about the coming of Jesus that is usually overlooked in all the celebrations involved? In John 14 Jesus reminds the confused doubting Thomas that he has come for more than what they and we expect when talking about our Savior. Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.(v.6) Jesus clarified more of what that meant when he said, Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am.(Jn.12:25,26) Jesus enlarged what he meant by the truth when he said,"You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”(Jn.8:31,32) Finally, Jesus enlarged what he meant about life for us when he said, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.(Mark 8:34,35) It seems to me that those of us who claim to be followers of Jesus have not understood how cleverly our Enemy has made Christmas and Easter into holidays that are celebrated but not life renewing. How Jesus longs for us to follow him as the Way, the Truth, and the Life on a growing daily basis that makes our lives an adventure that will lead us out of time and into a wonderful eternity in our Father’s house. Lord Jesus, please help us to celebrate you that way every day.
John 14:6 Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
Roy Wisner
