Celebrating Christmas in a World Gone Mad

Monday dawns, and only nine days remain until Christmas Eve. I drive to the gym, listening to the local Christian radio station on the way. Christmas carols sing of silent nights, the baby Jesus snuggled in a manger, and angels singing in the heavens.

And then I hear the news: more than a dozen hostages huddled overnight in an Australian coffee shop, held by a lone Islamic extremist. The situation ended with fatalities when police stormed the building.

Silent night, holy night. All is calm, all is bright.

Seriously? After a year filled with stories about ISIS atrocities, ebola, and the Syrian crisis, it seems nothing is further from the truth.

I spoke to a women’s group in Toronto on Saturday evening. In a nutshell, I talked about Christmas being about toys (gift giving), tinsel (preparing our homes), traditions (meaningful practices passed down from one generation to the next), and ties (relationships with people). But more than these things, Christmas celebrates the Truth embodied—Jesus Christ.

Jesus—the Way, the Truth, and the Life—is the fulfillment of a prophecy made hundreds of years prior to His birth. He is Immanuel “God with us.” He is “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 7:14, 9:6). In Him we find hope. In Him we find wisdom. In Him we find salvation and joy and peace no matter what comes undone around us.

Jesus brings hope

Our world seems infected by evil gone rampant, but Jesus pierces the darkness and brings hope. Two thousand years ago, He came to earth as a helpless baby. But one day soon He will return as conquering King and Judge. Every knee will bow to Him. Every man, woman, and child will pay Him the homage He’s due.

In the meantime, the enemy of our souls cranks up the heat here on earth. He knows his time is limited, and he’s hell bent on accomplishing his mission—to steal, kill, and destroy as many people as he can. Let’s acknowledge the spiritual warfare that blazes around us, and let’s prayerfully enter the battle as the Holy Spirit directs.

As we celebrate Christmas, let’s remember that it’s about far more than toys, tinsel, traditions, and ties. These things are good, but Christmas is truly about the Truth embodied—Jesus Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords.

Silent night, holy night. All is calm, all is bright.