It is not Christmas, yet. It is Christmas Eve, and today we are chilling. We cannot get some jobs done as the University and half of the town is shut down. The Other half of the town is shopping, thinking that this is the promise of the season.
We are being minimal on gifts: this is the tradition of my family where we don’t spend money on such and instead go out for Christmas Lunch somewhere nice. As the Minimalists put it “Love people and use things. Not the other way around. It never works”
It’s Christmas Day. Little Andy tears off wrapping paper to reveal Optimus Prime. He smiles as the large robot toy comes to life with flashes and beeps. Andy’s parents’ expressions, however, are more pained grimaces than smiles.
A few minutes later, Andy discards the toy and begins unwrapping the rest of his presents, extracting each box from under the tree, one by one—some long, some tall, some heavy, some light. Each box reveals a new toy; each shred of wrapping paper, a flash of happiness.
An hour later, however, little Andy is crying hysterically. Based on his fits, this has undoubtedly been the Worst. Christmas. Ever. Sure, Andrew received many of the things on his list—but he’s far more concerned with what he didn’t receive. The toys in front of him simply remind him of what he doesn’t have.
Sounds childish, but we do the same thing: we look at things around us and want more. We covet the neighbor’s new car, the co-worker’s new clothes, the friend’s new iPhone.
Our hope is not in our toys, but in Christ who is to come. We give time to families now because Mary and Joseph were given Jesus for a time, to raise him, so that all may see salvation.
And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people
and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,
as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
that we should be saved from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us;
to show the mercy promised to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,
the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
to give knowledge of salvation to his people
in the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
(Luke 1:67-80 ESV)
“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”
The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.
(Revelation 22:12-17 ESV)
What is this washing of the robes but a continual effort to rid ourselves of that which holds us back? Bad habits, beloved vices, the false pleasure of new gear or the praise of men. We need to improve ourselves. We need to do the work of Christ
There is no season for rest. There is also no season for the anxiety of business. For there is more to live than our possessions, and for this life we will give an account.