What is the ‘it’ factor for you? You know… that nagging ever present harassingly depressing thing that you have tried to put out of your mind until after the holidays. You can do it. Just put on a friendly faced front. You must do it at least for a month for the sake of all that is tradition, and good in the world, and for family. After all it is time for joy and peace right? It is the time for going along, and getting along regardless of whether or not you can stand that obnoxious family member you have purposely avoided since last December. After all, the Hallmark holiday movies have started, and everyone just loves one another, and it snows on Christmas Eve. Be merry, smile, turn on those gas logs, decorate your tree and your whole house while you’re at it. Go shopping, eat with family, go to all the parties, sing those songs along with the radio or better yet in church, it counts for more points doesn’t it, and by all means give and get those presents, that’s where all the happiness comes from right!
Wrong, that’s where the term ‘January blues’ comes from, because a manufactured holiday FEELING for a month is NOT going to get rid of whatever ‘IT’ is in your life. The holidays will come and go for you, my friend, if you are not careful, just like they have so many times before, and it will soon be January and your difficulties will still be right where you tried to leave them. You see, the problem is that doing all of those great and fun holiday activities can only bring momentary or brief periods of happiness into your life, but not real or lasting joy. Most likely, you have experienced these times enough in your life that you know I’m speaking truth. Alright then, the question now is if the holidays by themselves, and all the surrounding fan fare are not enough to deal with the real tough issues in my life, what is?
The answer is simple, it is CHRISTmas. It is what the world is so desperately trying to leave out of all December festivities, but also what God Himself has revealed to us in His Word (the Bible). He Himself gave Christ to us in order to answer all of our greatest needs. It truly is the gift that brings all the real peace and joy anyone could ever hope for. You see, the biggest ‘it’ for all of humanity is our rebellious attitude and action toward a loving God, a God who loves us in spite of all our deficiencies, hang-ups, and bad habits. A God who tells us that the true meaning of Christmas is that He showed us His great love on that one special night. God sent His one and only unique Son, Jesus, to this earth on that night so long ago in the little town of Bethlehem in Israel. It was truly as the angels sang that night to some local shepherds, “Peace come down to earth as God’s favor had been shown to all men.”
Why did God send Jesus from heaven to earth, why did you and I need Him to come? We needed a Savior to place our hope and trust in, a Savior who can restore the relationship that is broken between us and a perfect God. That Saviors name is Jesus, who is Christ the Lord. Have you by faith ever asked Jesus to forgive your sins, the rebellious things that we have done in our lives towards God and others? You can do it right now, and God in heaven will hear you and forgive you. If you will accept the gift of Christmas that God is offering you, then He through your faith in Jesus will take away the “it” in your life and replace it with sheer joy!
