So I officially got an original 2010/2011 Manchester United Jersey for a rip off price of RM70 and not to mention a G2000 suit for my birthday, a book by John Eldridge, a new pair of soccer boots, 3 piggy banks, a cheese spray, a big blue t-shirt, visitors and a lot of weight gained from a mum-home-cooked Christmas dinner. Not much. But again. Not bad. Not bad at all.
I guess I am always tempted to desire more than what I have been given but thanks be to God who continues to empower us, I am truly grateful for His providence in my life in this year of 2011. I know there were Christmases before that weren't this nice, and I do believe there would be Christmases in the future where presents and gifts would be lesser. But what I hope would not be taken away ever is the love shared with loved ones and the focus of this so meaningful event- Jesus Christ.
I do look forward to the time where all my brothers are grown up and earning so that we can start buying proper gifts for each other (proper as in good quality- usable items) and when we can buy proper stuff for the parents who are now basically on the giving end and we the receivers. But more importantly I look forward to the time when we can sit down together, sing christmas carols, and share from the word of God and his providence in our lives. Something that we missed out this year.
It really doesn't matter how much we get or how much fun we have because when we strip all these things down it's the birth of Jesus that matters, it's the cross and it's His salvation. I see when Christians especially many churches nowadays sugar coat christmas with layers so thick that what the lost see is nothing but a glamourous christmas tree that appears sacred, cool pop music laced with some christmas-sy lyrics, lots and lots of santa hats and guess what?! They even have a concert and Korean Pop dance! Gosh, I am entertained; But WHERE IS JESUS? WHERE IS THE GOSPEL MESSAGE?! Is the church trying to please the world or is it speaking that radical, life-changing message that demands one's whole being and yet gives eternal life? If they fear the authorities, let the message be subtle but let it not be defiled! What does "Merry Christmas" mean when you know that not even one person in that audience would go back reflecting on what their life is without Jesus? When you know that they would go back even fuller with their own self then they were before the concert? Fun. That's the word. It is fun that has infiltrated the professing christian world of today. It is fun that dilutes the message of the cross; it is fun that turns the church of God into a whore.
As I ponder upon this, I feel as guilty as one of those people who treat christmas as another "reason to partay!" I am as guilty of defiling the gospel as those who planned the concert to have K-Pop dance moves. I am as guilty as a person who asks, "How many presents did you get?" And compares. As I rethink my words, I realise that I am speaking more to myself than to anybody else. It is a illustration of my state of heart. All I think is about how I can get myself a better christmas this year.
And that's it! That's the reason Christ came to earth, to shift the focus of those who are blinded by their own pride and lust for themselves! I don't need to point fingers, I NEED IT THAT FOCUS FOR MYSELF! And so does everyone else!
Christmas is just but another day of a reminder that Christ came to save the lost, to save me, and you from materialistic and individualistic blindness and may it be another special day of encouragement and sharing of His providence. Let traditions be secondary, designed to reaffirm his goodness and mercy to us, earthlings.
Blessed Christmas.
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