Article written by: Edna Ellison
Regardless of where you come from, there is no mistaking of the feeling of Christmas during the month of December. Immediately excitement is in the air! The smell of cinnamon, pinecones, and wood burning fireplaces suggest that it’s just around the corner. Shopping takes preference over everything else. People shop for gifts for family and friends. Also, they shop for gifts to give co-workers or others because they may feel obligated.
The atmosphere seems to say, “Be kind to your fellow man”. People are much nicer than they would be ordinarily. The homeless and those in need are blessed to receive more at Christmas than any other time of the year. Have you ever stopped and considered why this time of year shows great giving and receiving? There are many people who don’t know God and many who have heard of him but have not received Him as Lord and Savior of the world yet they are caught up in all the tinsel, gift giving and good will as everyone else.
As Christians, we take the month of December to recognize the birth of our Lord and Savior. I will share as a reminder to some and enlightenment to others why this celebration is so important.
Adam and Eve disobeyed God and separated us from Him. God gave Adam instructions that he could eat from every tree in the garden but the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God told him that if they ate of that tree they would surely die (Genesis 2:16-17). Satan used the serpent which was more subtill (malicious wisdom) than any beast of the field which God had made. According to Genesis 3: 17, “The serpent said to Eve that she would not die if she ate from the tree. Also, he told her that if she ate from it that her eyes would be opened, and she would be like gods knowing good and evil. When Eve saw that the fruit was good to eat, pleasant to the eyes and it would make her wise, then she ate of it. She then gave the fruit to Adam and he ate of it.” This was how they disobeyed God. This is also where they and we as their descendants were separated from God, (Genesis 3:13-24). God initiated a way for us to come back to Him (Genesis 3:15-16). God came to earth in the form of man. He sent His beloved Son Jesus Christ to be our Savior.
Romans 5:8 says, “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” God gave man His laws to live by. He knew that man could not keep the law. Men sent up sacrifices to God that had to be repeated time and time again. In sending Jesus, He would be a perfect sacrifice once and for all.
Isaiah 7:14 says, “Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel.” In Matthew 1:23, It is stated that Immanuel means “God with us.” History and scripture point to the fact that Jesus was probably born in the summertime, but Christians have chosen to celebrate His birth in December. It is not important when He was born, all that is important is that He WAS born to save us!
Isaiah the prophet foretold Jesus’s birth in the book of Isaiah 9th chapter verse 6. He says, ” For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
“The angel of the Lord said for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angels a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace goodwill toward men.” (Luke 2:11-14)
There may be turmoil in an individual’s life, but the atmosphere in the month of December is an atmosphere of Peace, Love and Goodwill.
On this Christmas as you give gifts and as you receive them, keep in mind, God has given you the best, most important and Ultimate gift that you will ever receive. That Gift is Jesus!
Enjoy Jesus every day,
Edna Ellison, author