twas the night before christmas
Erik Strunk
twas the night before Christmas
Introduction
Christmas, what a wonderful time of year. Many think of this as just
another day, and who can hardly blame them. With our current economy
the way it is, no wonder people get the wrong idea of what this
holiday is really about. Christmas these days has gone rather too
commercial that people have no time to consider the true meaning of
the season.
Though it is great to put up pretty lights and decorations, sing those
interesting carols, and buy a tree, there is only one thing that truly
matters. I think it is also great to exchange gifts, but again there
is something of utmost importance about to happen and I will attempt
to explain all this into today's sermon.
Part one: great expectations
On nationwide television on Christmas Eve, different companies would
show various commercials promising that they will forgive one's
financial debts for those who have over charged their credit cards or
perhaps those who have defaulted on a student loan or mortgage. With
all this extremely heavy debt in our society today, you can be sure
that there will some sort of celebration as a result of this
"across-the-board financial forgiveness".
There is also another form of debt hanging over the homes of many in
this nation. This is the debt of guilt resulting from things like
failed marriages and/or relationships, and the debt of responsibilty
of deep divisions between parents and children. If these sin-debts are
dividing you and your family, then let God's Christmas announcement of
the forgiveness of this debt in Jesus Christ give you the greatest
Christmas in your whole life.
You and your loved ones can start over. Your credit card of life in
God's sight has been wiped clean. For you, this Christmas can surely
be a new beginning. The forgiveness of all your past failures is now
available and truly possible in the long fortold birth, death, and
resurrection of Jesus Christ himself.
Part two: Getting Ready for Christmas
If our Christmas is to be truly a Christ festival, we must get ready
for it. Many are not ready for this day, as the innkeeper was not
ready for Christ. As the old familiar Christmas reveals that one
tragic situation, "There was no room for them in the inn". There were
crowds in Bethlehem and the family of David were meeting in grand
reunion. As you may already know, business was good, but the visit of
Mary, Joseph, and the newborn Christ child passed quickly and the
innkeeper never got to meet the savior, because he was not ready.
This was a completely different situation for good ol' Simeon! He was
waiting for the Christ child for a very long time. He may have perhaps
arose every morning with the thought that the day might bring the
revelation of his savior. He went daily to the temple with the happy
anticipation and full hope. He finally had the happiest Christmas he
had ever wished for.
So my friends, How do we get ready for Christmas in our souls, or in
our hearts? We must get hold of God by the handle of our sins. The
true God will not be found in quest of religion, he is waiting for
sinners in search of salvation.
Part three: Christmas's Contrasts
The more we reflect on the events that lead to that special first
Christmas, the more we get a sense of total amazement. On that night,
God was reconciling the world with himself, thus fulfilling a
long-announced promise. The savior of all generations to come was born
in a humble stable. It was no surprise at all that the angels would
praise God, and the shepherds would glorify Him after all the things
they had seen and heard. It is also no surprise either that the Magi
would travel from a far away land to present gifts to baby Jesus.
To most people, that night was no different from any other night. In
reality, that night was preceded by many events and circumstances,
both in heaven and on Earth. God's plan is taking place. The night-sky
blue and covered with stars-opens up and a celestial messenger
announces to the shepherds the birth of the savior.
Lets go back to that humble manger and look at the baby through the
eyes of our soul. Can you see the cross on which He's going to die?
Darkness has been lifted up, fear has been conquered by love, and hell
has been defeated forever.
part four: Christmas Forever
Christmas is about to make its annual journey around the world. Soon
the sheet marked December 24 will fall from the calendar at the
International Date Line out in the Pacific Ocean and it will be
Christmas in New Zealand, in Eastern Asia, and on many islands. Like a
great ray of warm and cheery light, Christmas will move westward 24
giant steps until it has encircled the Earth. It will brighten Japan
where hundreds of new converts to Chirstianity will for the first time
experience a blessed Christmas.
Christmas shall also shine on the battlefields of Iraq and Afganistan
where many a soldier will think of home and long for it more tenderly
than he or she has in his or her life. The light of Christmas will
become rather dim as it passes behind the Iron Curtain and the Bamboo
Curtain. Lets not forget about China and other nations where Christian
missionaries have been sent home, imprisioned, or murdered by wicked
men who insist that they do not believe in God, where it will be not
so bright.
Many wicked men throughout the ages were afraid of God as Herod was
afraid of the Christ child when he ruthlessly slaughtered innocent
babies at Bethlehem. Please rest assured that there shall always be
hearts in many evil nations where the light of Christmas will shine.
It is becoming increasingly clear that the whole history of humanity
finds in Christ its center, its direction, and the solution to the sin
that is fundamental to all our problems: Christ is the Son of God and
the Savior of the world.
Part five: Joy stirs the Unborn
As we launch into this Christmas season, it would be a great idea to
remember a most unusual event that took place during the first
Christmas. St. Luke recalls that the baby that Elizabeth was carrying
leaped in her womb when she heard Mary's greeting.
We can not say for sure what caused the unborn child to respond, but
lets not forget that sacred scriptures state that this momentous event
came about when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting. Elizabeth stated,
"Blessed art thou among women". Mary carried within her the most
special baby that would ever be born.
This should not surprise us. The announcement that the savior was soon
to be born was so momentous and so extraordinary that it impacted the
young and old, the born and the unborn, and all people. The next time
you think of the exitement of the Christmas season, think of the joy
that Jesus brought of all.
Conclusion
I just want to close today by saying what a blessing it is to be
celebrating this joyous occasion among all of you. It is both an honor
and a privelege to be involved in such a great tradition that has made
a great impact on many lives.
I invite you to take the time now to rember what the season truly
means to you and to honestly think about how you can make the season
brighter for others who are less fortunate.
Jesus was born into the world, not from it. He did not evolve out of
history, he came into from the outside. He is not the best human
being, he is a being who can not be accounted for by the human race.
He is not man becoming God, but God coming into human flesh. His life
is the highest and holiest entering in the lowliest door.
Our Savior's birth was an advent, and as we celebrate this upcoming
season, I encourage you to consider what price you will pay to offer
yourselves to him. Christmas is not just about exchanging gifts,
trees, lights, decorations, or mistletoe, it is about doing what you
know is right. Remember this next time you see something that makes
you feel good and you will see the difference. Take care and God
bless.
written by E. Strunk on 12/9/2008