Missing Christmas

The images of Christmas are quite vivid in most of our minds. You haveprobably heard about the boy who, when asked about the Christmas story, could only remember the three maggots who brought gold, frankincense and smurfs to the baby Jesus.

In addition to this distorted image of Christmas, there are many other ways that we view Christmas. Some see it as a time of giving and thus, shopping. Some think of family. Others are reminded of plays, candy, and presents.
It is, as one writer has said, ``harder and harder to see Christmas throughthe wrapping paper of our culture.''
In 1989, the actor Charles Durning made a film entitled, ``The Christmas That Almost Wasn't.'' The film portrays Santa as very unhappy. He is so bothered by the greed and selfishness of the world that he has threatened to cancel the holiday, thus causing everyone to miss Christmas. Sadly, almost everyone misses Christmas every year.

How is it that we miss Christmas? We miss Christmas when we don't personally receive the gifts that the Lord Jesus Christ came to give us. Jesus came as a Savior to save us from our sins and to give us a new life, as well as eternal life. We miss Christmas when we don't receive his free gift of salvation.

We also miss Christmas when we fail to personally give the gift of ourselves to Jesus Christ in worship and thanksgiving. We almost always give gifts to those whom we love. Why, we should ask, do we forget our Lord.

The ``how'' of missing Christmas is simple but the ``why'' of missing Christmas is somewhat more complex. Let me suggest some reasons why we miss it that are taken right from the Biblical account of the very first Christmas.

Firstly, it is very possible to miss Christmas because we are preoccupied. Like the innkeeper who had no room in his inn for Joseph and the very pregnant Mary (Luke 2:7), we are not hostile or unsympathetic. We are just very busy. The shopping, the Christmas parties, the Christmas concerts, the wrapping of gifts, etc., make it so very easy for us to miss Christmas. It takes a real effort to focus on the real reason for the season.

Second, we can miss Christmas if we are perplexed about the Christ child. Just as those who heard the shepherds' first announcement of the Savior's birth (Luke 2:18). These individuals marveled at the good news, but did not personally go to check things out for themselves. They missed Christmas. Sadly, to most people, who Jesus really is and what he came to do is some what of a blur. Growing up in church I had a vague idea about the identity of the baby Jesus, but I understood very little of the implications of His coming to earth. I made very little effort to checkout His claims. Frankly, I was comfortable in my ignorance. The result was that for many years I missed Christmas.

We can also miss Christmas because of our own fears regarding Jesus Christ. I call it the phobia of Christmas. When Herod and the Jewish leaders were approached by the Magi from the East they were troubled (Matt. 2:1-3).The Magi sought a new born king. King Herod feared that new king might take away his title as king of the Jews. Jesus comes not only to us as a Savior, but as our King. We miss Christmas when we are afraid to give Christ full reign in our lives because of the changes that He most certainly would require.

Lastly, we can miss Christmas because of pride. The chief priests and scribes were experts in the law. They even quoted Micah 5:2 to Herod about the whereabouts of Christ's birth (Matt. 2:4-6). Yet they failed to seek out the Christ child. They were content in their religious tradition. They had a concept of a Messiah that they were comfortable with. Evidently, the Jesus that the Magi sought was not what they were looking for. We must never forget that it is not the religious traditions that make Christmas. It is Jesus. Let's be sure not to replace Him with ceremony.

In a few short days Christmas will come and go. Let’s not miss it. Let’s put aside our preoccupations with the presents and focus on the person of Christ. Let’s deal sincerely with the questions we have about Christ. Let’s search the Scriptures to find the answers. Let’s bow down before Him as King. Let’s humble ourselves in His presence.

Regretfully, this year many will once again miss Christmas. Don't be among this group. Jesus Christ extends an invitation for us to experience Him and His salvation all year `round.
Receive His free gift of salvation with its forgiveness of sin and
eternal life today and in turn, give to Him the gift of your heart.

Merry New York City Christmas,

Dave Watson, An Urban Christian