This may sound strange, but as I get older, I look forward to Christmas more each year.
The time spent with family and friends, fellowshipping together, loving one another is priceless. The giving and receiving of cards in the mail and of giving gifts to one another is wonderful. It is such a joy reading the biblical account of the first Christmas, when God sent His only Son into the world, and singing all the Christmas songs. It seems like the Christmas season goes by way too fast. It is such a blessed season, especially in this world we live in today with all its trouble and turmoil.
Sadly, in our country and around the world today, so many governments and people are trying to take Jesus out of Christmas. When you take Jesus out, you basically have nothing left. Yes, you have a holiday with Christmas lights and decorations, food, gifts and get-togethers, but that is it. It is really pretty empty; I know from experience.
The experts tell us that after Christmas, drug overdoses and suicide rates go way up. For so many people, life after Christmas is so empty, so hopeless. Without God, without love, life is empty. I know, I lived the first 20 years of my life that way. At the age of 18, a week after Christmas, I nearly killed myself. Life was so empty and so bad for me. There was no love, joy or peace in my life. I had heard of God, I had heard the Christmas story, but I did not know God at all.
That all changed two years later in January; I read a book about a personal, loving God. I got down on my knees that day and repented of all my sins and asked God to forgive me, and then I asked Jesus to come into my heart and be my Lord and Savior. I gave Him my whole life and promised to follow Him all the rest of my days. I had just received the best Christmas present ever.
He totally changed my life right there, and I have never been the same since. The Bible says, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new” (Corinthians 2: 5-17 KJV). That is exactly what happened to me that day. No, it was not Christmas Day, it was three-and-a-half weeks later, but it was the best gift I ever received. My only regret is that I did not receive Him much sooner. I am so thankful that God is so loving and patient, waiting for lost sinners to come home to Him.
Since receiving Him, there have been many trials and battles in my life, to say the least, but He has helped and guided me through them all. What a loving God I serve. I owe my whole life to Him. No more suicide or depression for me, I just keep looking to Jesus and following Him. I know someday I will step over to the other side and see Him face to face – what a day that will be. For now, I keep working and following Him here. And yes, I am really looking forward to Christmas this year again, not for the presents under the Christmas tree, for I have already received the greatest Christmas gift of all time: Jesus. Christmas is to celebrate Jesus coming into the world to save sinners such as me. If you have never received Him, I cannot urge you strongly enough to do so. If you do so, like I did, you will never be the same again.
From me and my family to you, have a blessed, merry Christmas and remember: Jesus is the whole reason for the season.
