Hope is Born

“I wish Christmas were more like Halloween” a co-worker recently remarked. I went into soul-shock as the discussion of the upcoming Christmas party continued. “Oh God,” I thought, “what if that were true? What if Christmas were like Halloween? A time to dress up, debauch myself in drunken revelry, have a good laugh, and then be done with it all?” The thought was horrifying to consider, yet for this co-worker, Christmas was ruined by the confusion of holiday stress and religious overtones that sought to undermine her idea of a good time. I had never considered Christmas from a secular perspective until prompted by this comment. My soul wept bitterly as I considered how things might be: “If there were no Christmas, there would be no incarnation. If no Jesus, then no cross of salvation, and if no cross – then I’d be without a single hope in life…” The picture of my own lostness overwhelmed me.
Christ is hope for the world. His life and sacrifice alone add meaning and joy to life on earth, but without the hope of resurrection, Christmas could be a haunting time. Some people turn it into a consumer celebration of materialism; others wave signs to remind a forgetful world that “Jesus is the Reason for the Season;” and others still couldn’t care less about the ‘reason’ for the season, but hate the celebration of materialism in that hippy, love-the-earth sort of way. Jesus isn’t just the reason for the season though; He alone is hope for a world staggering in it’s own blindness.
Christmas is the celebration of “Emmanuel,” God with us, and a time to reflect not only upon Christ’s dwelling here, but also on why it was that He came – to point men to God and make a way for salvation. His aim was to glorify His Father (John 17:4,6) and to free mankind from the chains of sin. Without freedom in Christ, every effort to achieve ‘happiness’ fails because it takes self as the starting point. Jesus said that if He were lifted up, He would draw all men to Himself. The joy and fulfillment that the world craves is only found in Christ. God is calling worshippers from every tribe and tongue, and it was for the accomplishment of this task that Jesus came – to call out worshippers and point them to God as the all-satisfying delight of the world.
The story of Christ’s coming is the story of the Messiah who emptied Himself of more than we can fathom to become the perfect High Priest. He did this by living our every trial, facing Heaven’s wrath, and paying our debts. Christmas is an opportunity to reflect upon this story and examine how it affects our lives. For those without Christ, no amount of gift giving, Salvation Army bell ringing, or partying can numb the truth that man can find no hope within himself. As those who possess a light that the World is dying for, Christians have a great responsibility to be faithful stewards and witnesses of God’s glory.
This means that we must pull out our nets and become fishers of men. When we share the gospel, it is important that we do so for the glory of His name. It is not enough to love the lost of this world if we do not love even more the God that we are pointing them to. “Humanity does not deserve the love of God any more than you or I do. We should never be Christian humanists, taking Jesus to poor sinful people, reducing Jesus to some kind of product that will better their lot. People deserve to be damned, but Jesus, the suffering Lamb of God, deserves the reward of His suffering.” [1] The world doesn’t need another tourniquet to try and stop the pain, they need to hear the truth about their fallen state and God’s glory.
Revisiting my co-worker, the promise that Christ’s birth represents will make no difference to her unless the truth of the gospel breaks through her blinders. And how can she hear of this truth unless I share the gospel with her. I am compelled by a dangerous love for God to declare His worth to all mankind, as are all of His redeemed children. Living incarnationally and making Christ’s name known is not the job of missionaries only, it is the joy of children delighting in their great Father. Let us be ambassadors of Hope to a world without a Savior – may our lights shine brightly and remind all of the one Light, whose unassuming birth set the anvil to break the chains of sin and self.

1. John Dawson, as quoted in John Pipers’ “Let the Nations Be Glad” (Desiring God Foundation; Baker Book House Company, Grand Rapids Michigan, 2003) pg. 42