For Christians, this time too is a most joyous season because we will soon celebrate Christmas. Why are we most happy? We rejoice most greatly because we know the true plight of humankind. “All have sinned” (Rom 3:23) and “the wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23). Every human being, young or old, will perish in hell for eternity because we have sinned against God. How frightening! Imagine a person being sentenced by the judge to life imprisonment with no chance of ever going home. Hell is many times more frightening because the suffering is eternal and extremely painful.
Christians, however, are not afraid because Jesus has taken away all our sins. On the day any person asks Jesus to be his/her Saviour, that person “has eternal life [immediately], and will not be judged [that is, condemned in hell for sin on judgement day], but has [immediately] crossed over from [eternal] death to [eternal] life” (John 5:24). Praise the Lord!
This has been possible because Jesus chose some 2000 years ago on Christmas day to come to this world to save you and me. This is why Christmas is so special for a Christian. We have every reason, whether we are healthy or sick, rich or poor, good looking or not good looking, to rejoice with real joy. We have eternal life and the guaranteed certainty of entering heaven the moment our life on earth ends. Hence Christians can be happy under any circumstance.
In this month of December, let me suggest you do several things to make Christmas meaningful. First, for the next few Sundays before Christmas Sunday (20th Dec), read about Jesus’ birth in chronological order: on 6/12, read Luke 1:26-56 and Matt 1:18-24; on 13/12, read Luke 2:1-7, Matt 1:25, and Luke 2:8-38; on 20/12, read Matt 2:1-23 and Luke 2:39-40. For each section that you read, ask yourself: What challenges would Joseph and Mary face?. Then ask the Lord to help you imitate their obedience: They willingly went through much trouble and danger so that you can hear the gospel.
Second, for each of the three weeks before Christmas, do something for someone: pass someone a gospel tract. Thus before 25th December, you should have handed out three gospel tracts to three different individuals. Just as Joseph and Mary endured difficulties to bring you Jesus, do the same for someone too.
Third, on 20th December, wake up a bit earlier to reflect on this question: If Jesus did not come to this world to bring me salvation, what kind of a person would I be? I would be living in sin and heading towards hell. Think about how your life has changed since Jesus came into your life as Saviour and Lord. Then spend some quiet moments to thank Jesus for saving your soul and giving you eternal and a new life. By then, you would be ready to come to church on 20th December to offer up a worship that pleases God. May our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ be praised for all eternity!