Be Thankful for the Christmas Season 

After recently reading several books that focused on deep biblical doctrine and theology, I decided that I should look for something lighter for my next read. I ended up pulling out my copies of the series of writings known as The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. It had been quite a few years since I had last read these enjoyable tales with their engaging analogies in relation to Christianity. In a short time, I have already completed six of the seven small volumes.

At one point in these stories, it pictures a world that is under the curse of an evil force. That place is described as a world in which it is always winter but without any Christmas. Even apart from the theological implications of such a circumstance, many of us would consider it to be unpleasant to live in such world. We are thankful for a Christmas season that gives us an occasion to celebrate in the midst of the harshness of wintertime. It is nice to see the holiday decorations brightening up what would otherwise be a rather drab landscape with its bare gardens and leafless trees. It is uplifting to view the holiday lights in the midst of the increased darkness of winter. Christmas fills this season with a hope and joy that would otherwise be missing. Even for those who may ignore the true meaning of the occasion, Christmas is a welcome respite to the cold months of winter.

However, for those who recognize the deeper significance of this holiday, there is even more reason to be grateful for its existence. It is more than simply a break from the winter doldrums. It is a recognition of the gift of God’s Son that brought light and life into our world. It is a celebration of God’s great love as He provided the means for our deliverance from the sin and evil that had imprisoned our hearts in its cold, harsh environment. It reminds us of the reasons we have to possess joy and hope in a world in which evil and suffering still exert a heavy influence.  

Imagine if we did live in a world where evil prevailed and Jesus had not been born to be our Savior. What if there wasn’t a Christmas? Without the coming of God’s Son in the flesh, there would then have been no miracle-working Jesus, none of His teachings for us to live by, and no sinless example for us to seek to follow. But most of all, there would have been no cross and no empty tomb – no sacrifice made for our sins and no glorious resurrection to verify it all. We would all be wandering aimlessly in the frozen tundra of our sins with no hope of anything ever changing. We would be forever bound in our winter prison.

Sometimes we may be tempted to view the Christmas season in a negative way due to the busy activities, the heavy traffic, the expense of shopping for gifts, the preparations to host gatherings, or even for theological reasons having to do with pagan practices and the likelihood that this wasn’t actually the time of year when Jesus was born. However, let’s not lose sight of the basic truth for which we should be thankful. Jesus was born. And it is an event worth celebrating because it is the beginning of everything else Jesus would do to provide for our salvation. Without the manger, there would no cross. Jesus had to be born in order to fulfill His mission.

So let’s be thankful for the Christmas season. Let’s be grateful that it doesn’t always have to be winter in our hearts. The Savior has come to bring us light and life.