It's Christmas Time in the City

The past few weeks have been full of Christmas festivities.  The house and the office are decorated, and City Centre is gorgeous.  Twice I have been to the Christmas Market full of exotic food and other items from around the world.  I have received Christmas cards, bought an advent calendar, and listened to Christmas music.  I’ve watched three versions of “A Christmas Carol” and have read the book.  I have even been carolling!  My Christmas plans are made.  Some families have invited me to spend Christmas with them and I am truly grateful.  God has put many wonderful people into my life this year.  I have decided though, that I will have Christmas dinner with Jaci’s family.  I have also scheduled a Christmas morning Skype date with my family.  I am so thankful for modern technology!  I have been busy at work and with schoolwork and I’m counting down the days to Mom’s visit on the 27^th.

This is a different Christmas for me, away from the people I love and the traditions I know.  I have had my melancholy moments, listening to Bing Crosby sing “White Christmas” and wishing I was home.  But being in a different place for Christmas has caused me to consider more closely the true reason for Christmas.  I have been thinking of the anticipation that must have been felt in Heaven those many years ago as God’s plan was put into action; the excitement that must have been felt when it was finally time for the promised Messiah to bring salvation to a fallen world.  Christmas is not about gifts, Santa Claus or decorations, and that's something we are all aware of.  However, it is not about wise men, shepherds, or angels either.  Yes, these have become a part of it and all serve to remind us of this wonderful, exciting event in history.  However, without these things it would still be Christmas, because Christmas is the Messiah come to earth.  Jesus, fully God and fully man, came to take our sins, the sins of the world, upon Himself.  He came to rescue us from the punishment we deserve, if only we would accept Him as our Saviour.  This is the reason we celebrate.  Christ is Christmas.

So, while I am already making plans for next Christmas that include all of the traditions I hold dear, this year has served to remind me that the true reason we celebrate Christmas is to honour and glorify the One who came to die so that we might truly live.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16