Christmas

Another year, another Christmas.  Amazingly, I managed to avoid discussing the antics of the anti-theists for the season, despite how much they disgust me.  I'm serious; that took a lot of self-control.  I really just needed to ignore them this year, especially after the debacle-that-shall-not-be-named.  There has been a lot stupid floating around since then and I need a break from it.

Instead, I shall talk about Christmas.

After all, the event that Christmas celebrates may be the most important in history.

For those of you who do not know (how?) or are being intentionally obtuse (why?), Christmas is the day that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.  This event single-handedly changed the course of world history and has touched more lives than any other.

Before Christ, there was sin and darkness in a fallen world.  The righteous who believed in the God of Israel, Issac and Jacob were few and far inbetween.  The Israelites were continually threatened by enemies who worshipped nature and demons.  The world was filled by those who gave no value to human life and tossed it away casually.  There was little hope in the world for reason, sanity, and, perhaps most of all, salvation.

That all changed on the first Christmas.  That night, a new era dawned.  The dynamics by which the world worked changed completely.  As the newborn lay in the manger, none knew of the lessons to be taught and the miracles to be performed.  No one foresaw the crucifixion or the ressurection.  None saw the millions of lives to be transformed over the centuries.

What began that night in Bethlehem was light and hope.  Instead of a world where people were slaves to their baser instincts and unredeemable, they now had a savior.  They now had a hope to be at God's side after death.  They had reason to be righteous in life and be good to their fellow men.  The world was given a promise by God that whosoever shall believe in the salvation in Christ will not die.

Ever since, the blind have seen, the lame have walked and the broken-hearted have been made whole.  People have experienced an unconditional love that could never be replicated on Earth.  They have experienced grace and forgiveness far beyond what they deserve.

And it all started in a stable in the town of Bethlehem.

Spend your Christmas, between and during the gifts, the family and the egg nog, remembering why we celebrate and be merry for it.  It is a beautiful season.

Merry Christmas everyone!