When Christmas Is Over
The anticipation and preparation occupy my mind for a good month before Christmas. Then Christmas Day arrives and within 24 hours it’s all over. All the beautifully wrapped presents have been opened only to leave a heap of messy wrapping paper. The only proof of a lovingly prepared meal is crumbs on the plate and dirty dishes in the dishwasher. The day slowly ebbs away and one by one each person leaves to return home and the house grows quiet. Christmas is over but ONE thing remains.
Under my Christmas tree is a gold box with a Jesus figurine inside. It’s the first “present” I put under the tree after it’s decorated. Soon, it’s covered by all the presents that have been bought and wrapped for family and friends. One by one they are removed from the tree to give and slowly the Jesus “present” is revealed again. It’s the ONE thing that remains.
The day after Christmas we may feel rather “let down”. Or, in our exhausted state, we may be relieved that it’s over. We may even take our tree down and pack away all the decorations. But while Christmas the day may be over, Christmas isn’t done. Christmas isn’t as much about Jesus the baby in the manger as it is about Jesus Christ on the cross. It would do us good to remember the reason and purpose of the baby – 1 John 4:14 says “the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.”
Out of love, God wrapped His perfect gift of salvation in the tiny body of a baby who grew to be a man who sacrificed his life on a cross for sinners; the perfect gift for all those who receive it. Love was born to die. We give much attention to the baby but do we give our attention to the Savior? Every day that follows Christmas Day should be one of rejoicing and thankfulness. As we look upon the manger, we should see the cross. When all is said and done, it’s the ONE thing that remains. The ONE thing that saves sinners like you and me.
1 John 4:14 New Living Translation (NLT)
14 Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.
Matthew 1:21 English Standard Version (ESV)
21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
© 2018 Robin R King
