If we spend our life just earning the things of the world (money, raising a family, good health, etc.), our life is wasted. Don’t be mistaken: they are important. What I mean is: you must not stop at the things of the world, but they must achieve eternal value. For example, you earn money to feed your family, not simply for your children’s sake. Your most important objective is for your children to see that you are a good Christian father. Then, your children will be teachable when you tell them to trust and follow Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. You also teach them by your example how to be a godly father. You’d save their precious souls. Think: what value is there if your children lived a comfortable life but do not know Jesus as Saviour. They lose their souls in hell. The problem does not stop here: without Jesus in their life, you can be sure they’d live an ungodly life. Their morals may not be as evil as they can be, but their habits, values, thoughts and actions would be very deeply spoiled by sin, as Ephesians 2:1-3 says,
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.
You may have given your children a comfortable life, but you did not given them a truly meaningful life that has real value—eternal value. You spend your entire precious life and soul in getting worldly things that last only for several (100?) years. You use your life which has infinite value to exchange for things that are not even a fraction of infinite value. You have wasted your life. But how is this related to Christmas?
Christmas is not only a holiday. For Christians, it is a rare opportunity. During this time, when you invite people to church to celebrate Christmas or attend Christmas gatherings, people are more willing to come. In other words, Christmas makes preaching the gospel about Jesus Christ easier. Do enjoy good food and time with the family. But Christmas is more meaningful than that. Christmas is about Jesus. Christmas is about Jesus coming to save humankind. On Christmas, your loved ones can now obtain eternal life. They can be spared the punishment in hell for the many sins they have committed (“All have sinned”; “The wages of sin is [eternal] death” [Romans 3:23; 6:23]). They can obtain true peace and meaning in life. On Christmas, please give them what is truly precious: eternal life.
The church will have a gospel Sunday on 25 Dec 2022. Please invite your loved ones. Someone will share about why and how they believed in Jesus. The choir will also present beautiful carols. God’s word, the gospel that saves, will be preached. On 23 Dec 2022, each cell group and fellowship group will also go to homes to sing, present slides and a short gospel message. Please open your homes to your cell-group/fellowship group. Don’t do what the world does: enjoy Christmas without Christ. No, Christmas is only truly meaningful when you have preached Jesus. If you love your family and friends, give them the best gift: Jesus and eternal life.