a world without Christmas

On our way into the city the other week, we saw this billboard:

When I first saw the nativity scene out of the corner of my eye, my heart warmed. I was filled with the spirit of the season, heartened that someone had put up a billboard to unite the passing thousands in celebrating the real reason for Christmas.

But then I read the words – “You KNOW it’s a myth. This season, celebrate REASON!” – and my heart sank.

I’ve been thinking a lot about that billboard, why its words suck the joy from my spirit and make me so sad for the people who believe them. Rob’s dad wrote a post on his blog the other week that addresses this very question: what if Christ never came? What difference would it make? He’s graciously let me quote him here:

 

If there was no Christmas [then] God’s story would be stuck in the Old Testament in the dark. When people have turned their backs on God they ‘see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into outer darkness’ (Isa. 8:22).

Tragically, the next famous promise of Isa. 9:2 “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light” would be unfulfilled. No child is born, there is no wonderful counselor, no Prince of peace. No kingdom of justice and righteousness. There would be no light, no hope. No one will say the words: "I am the Light of the World, whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life" (John 8:12).

Tragically, for many people God’s story has never come alive. Actually, they are stuck in the darkness and unaware of the profound importance to life on earth that the Light has come in Christ. See the wonder of this prophecy in Isa. 9:1-7 uttered around 700 years before the first Christmas yet FULFILLED gloriously in Christ’s coming for us to have the light of life.

 

THAT’s why we celebrate!!