Here comes Christmas

Can anyone believe that it’s already just a few weeks until Christmas? The products for sale have been in the shops for months, but now the decorations are popping up in the shopping centres and even out on the streets, light poles and houses.

Christmas is traditionally a time of good cheer and kindness, a time to celebrate with family and friends, give gifts (and maybe get one or two!) and to be happy.

Unfortunately for many it’s not like that at all. Sadly Christmas has become very commercialised and as a result, an expensive time of year; a time when the amount of love for someone may be judged by the cost of the gift given. 

I heard on the radio it is predicted that Australians will spend $25 billion this Christmas!! That breaks down to an average of $1,325 for every person in our country. That doesn’t really matter so much if you’re working and living in secure accommodation, able to afford to buy a few gifts with maybe a credit card or two for back up. 

But what if someone has lost their job? What if they were unable to afford the rent and now have nowhere to call home? How would such a person manage to live up to the expectations of Christmas? What would they tell their family when they’re invited around for Christmas dinner, or even worse, their kids when they start asking for ridiculously expensive presents?

Christmas can be a time of immense stress, guilt and shame for many. A time when it feels as though a spotlight is being shone on their circumstances and on their inability to provide what is ‘expected’ for themselves and their families.  It can be a time when people crack under the immense pressure (perceived or real) that society places upon us. Thankfully most of us are blissfully unaware of this because we don’t find ourselves in such circumstances.

Something else that we hear a lot of at Christmas time is carols. Love them or otherwise, they are rolled out without fail every year! Have you ever stopped to think about the words as you’re singing along? 

Here’s just one example - ‘Joy to the world, the Lord is come; Let earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare him room and heaven and nature sing’. This is talking about the return of God’s son, Jesus to the earth. It’s talking about a time when there will be equality, justice, peace and goodwill for ALL people on the earth. 

The Bible tells us about this wonderful hope, about God’s incredible plan for our earth, and most importantly how you and I can take part in it! 

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” (Revelation 21:4, NLT)

This Christmas, why not take the time to grab a Bible and check it out - it could change your life.