Christmas time is fun isn’t it? We have Christmas colors! We have Christmas lights and decorations! We have Christmas music and carols! We have Christmas clothes! We have Christmas parties with food, drinks, and games! We have Christmas gifts! We have Christmas vacations! We have Christmas parades, concerts, pageants and other special programs! We celebrate Christmas till we have leftover candy canes we won’t find till next Summer!
There is so much to do during Christmas time and we should celebrate! The problem is, can we be blinded by all these things surrounding Christmas?
Do you remember the blindmen trying to experience what an elephant was?
(show picture) One touched the snout and said “an elephant is like a snake!” Another blindman touched an ear and said “an elephant is like a big carpet!”……..
It is fun to celebrate Christmas but many are really blind to the truth about Christmas. Yes we are to have fun and celebrate Christmas but let us not be blinded to the truth by all the Christmas fluff!
And so, what is the truth? The truth is what actually happened and what God says!
Now, you can study all the history books to try and know what happened?
But, what can be wrong with history books??
History books are written by people and people lie! Here’s an example of lies: You can buy books on Amazon.com (show picture) which states that landings on the moon never happened!
And we are told that Jesus was born on December 25, but some say it happened on January 6; both cannot be right! The truth is, the actual date is not stated in God’s Word, the Bible!
The only thing we can really trust as truth is what God says. God speaks the truth in the Bible. Certainly, we can learn what happened on Christmas by studying the New Testament.
But because all Scripture is breathe out by God, the truth about Christmas can also be found in the Old Testament. We read earlier one of those passages from the Book of Isaiah, Chapter 9 verses 6-7, For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.
Let us grasp the truths from this passage with the entire Bible in mind!
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given: The Son of course is Jesus Christ born in Bethlehem in the Mideast. Jesus Christ is the Son of God; in other words Jesus Christ is God who became a human being about 2000 years ago! And why was God born on earth to become flesh? – for us! – for people! Why was Jesus born on earth for people? – God Jesus had to live a life on earth for us to follow! God Jesus had to suffer and die on earth to pay for all our sins!
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace! Now, how can Jesus Christ be a wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting father, prince of peace if He died on earth? With the zeal of the Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ did die but rose from the dead and ascended back to heaven!
Jesus is no longer dead, He is alive and well!
And God’s word continues in Isaiah about Jesus - Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.
How does the eternal government of Jesus Christ increase? The eternal government of Jesus Christ increases as people on earth believe in Him! This is the main point of this message: Do you and I truly believe in Jesus Christ, not just Christmas? I’ll come back to this point later.
And we need to note the importance of the end of Isaiah 9:7!
It is simply saying, Jesus Christ will return to earth to establish His forever Kingdom!
Now, most Christians today are not blinded by all the Christmas fluff; that the reason for the season is God Jesus Christ, born on earth! I say most, because, it is very easy to be caught up in all the fluff of Christmas that even Christians today can celebrate Christmas without the Lord present in their presents!
It’s really this simple: The focus of all the Christmas stuff should be on the person who had a birthday! Is Jesus present in our presents?
But here is actually the bigger point as I alluded to earlier: Believe in Jesus Christ but not just Christmas!
We must not be like the blindmen experiencing only pieces of the elephant! We must grasp and believe the totality of Jesus Christ: not just Christmas
- Jesus Christ is God who became a human being = Christmas!
- Jesus suffered and died for sins of all mankind!
- Jesus rose from the dead and ascended back to heaven.
- Jesus calls on all people to believe in Him and be part of God’s eternal Kingdom!
- Jesus can return to earth at any moment to judge those who do not believe in Him.
If Jesus shows up right now, will He catch you not totally believing in Him? Are you confident in belonging to God’s eternal Kingdom?
Take a moment to quietly talk to God right where you are about these things. If you have never totally believed in Jesus Christ, do it right now and increase His eternal Kingdom!
