TUTTI SONO PI BUONI A NATALE

EVERYONE IS GOODER AT CHRISTMAS

If you could not correct my Italian, you probably felt that you had to correct my English! I know, I should have written nicer but it would have been less memorable! We are in the Christmas season and we have all seen how distorted this season is, how so many events, people, circumstances get in the way of the real meaning of the season. There is a danger for all of us to erase the real meaning of Christmas with our actions and attitudes. In Italy there is a saying that at Christmas all people become nicer. If you have ever spent this holiday in Rome you would beg to differ. Usually the traffic that is always chaotic gets worse because now everyone is in a hurry. The traffic lights that are usually only suggestions now become Christmas decorations with no meaning. The normal double parking now becomes impossible because cars are triple parked starting with the sidewalks where masses of people are angrily buying Christmas presents in overcrowded stores. The sales people are annoyed because they wish they were not working so they could be part of the angry crowd. Christmas has many biblical truths attached to it and they are so precious to us. With religion, man has tried to strip away some of the deepest truths about this holiday. All religions, all man made systems of belief have done essentially two things; they have lowered God to be in the image of man and have raised man to be better than what it is. The true meaning of Christmas exalts the holiness of God and exposes the sinfulness of man. God planned that God himself would have to come to earth to save man because his holiness required that kind of perfect sacrifice. 2 Timothy 1:9 (God) who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, Ephesians 1:4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. Man's sin required nothing less than Christ, God with us, to come and live a perfect life so that He could be the perfect substitute and bear the holy wrath of God that we deserved. Every time man thinks that God can accept in his presence anything less that perfection is lowering God to a man made image. Every time a person thinks that God can be satisfied with any man made effort is raising man to a status that does not belong to him. As we reflect on Christmas these are two of the many thoughts that should come to our mind. Jesus came, planned before the foundation of the world, to provide salvation for man kind. The coming of Jesus exalts the holiness of God and the utter sinfulness of man. Reality is that even those that say they believe these truths will display attitudes and reactions that demonstrate we forget very easily. Many are DISAPPOINTED at Christmas. Some like me in years past have been disappointed because the gift that we expected did not come. Some will be disappointed with the ungratefulness of some of those to which they have shown love. Others will be disappointed because at Christmas time more than other times broken relationships are exposed. Estranged loved ones, embittered relatives, and unhappy family member tend to dampen our holidays. Our sin and its consequences are exposed at Christmas. Others are DESPERATE at Christmas. In the last few weeks some of my dearest friends have lost loved ones because of unexpected death. This will be the first Christmas where family traditions will be changed forever. Some of these dear ones were without Christ and for all that we know are spending a Christless eternity. For some sickness is overshadowing all the festivities. Financial troubles, lack of jobs, family relationships are overwhelming the holiday season.

Some are plain DISTRACTED at Christmas. Maybe it's the first married Christmas where new traditions are formed. Some are enjoying the first Christmas with their first child. Others are loving a great year with a good job, financial security and good health. Although we bear the scars of our sin and the sin of others no true believer can really be disappointed at Christmas. The most holy God provided the solution for the sins that plague us. Our sin should not surprise us. The sin of others should not bring us desperation. Sin and it's consequences did not surprise God. He knew how terrible it is, that is why God himself hat to come and live among us and die the most cruel death on the cross for us. In fact not only did Christ accomplish our redemption but he is also a truly understanding high priest because he suffered all things like us. Even though all things are going well, if that is what is making your Christmas nice remember that disappointment and despair are around the corner. We live in fallen world where sin, even our sin, is present and bears consequences. No it's not true, at Christmas people are not gooder! At Christmas true believers are humbled by the goodness of the most holy God the sent his most holy, perfect, Son to die for sinners like us.

No disappointment, no desperation, no distraction When we stop and think of Christmas! She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. Matthew 1:21-25