On a trip to Williamsburg, Virginia with some great friends, we spent an afternoon in Smithfield walking through their historic district, admiring the homes and looking through the shoppes. One shoppe was a Christmas store. It was filled with bows and Santas, trees and ornaments, plaques and a wide variety of other decorations. It even had sections for Autumn and Halloween decorations. When I got to the very back of the store, tucked away in one tiny corner, I finally discovered a few nativity scenes and wise men and angels. My guess would be that less than 5% of the items in that store had anything to do with why we have Christmas to begin with.

That seems to be the reality in today’s world. Any day now you will start to see (if you haven’t already) the Christmas decorations in the big box stores, grocery stores, gas stations and other places of business. While it is easy to bemoan the marketing of what the world has come to identify as Christmas, I want to challenge you to something else this year. As the world tries to reidentify Christmas as something other than what it is, don’t let that be the reality in your life. As you see the lights and trees and decorations and wrapping paper and lights, let those be your reminder of why we have Christmas in the first place.

Luke 2:8-14 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

This announcement was world shaking. The one born that day was the Promised Messiah. He would fulfill God’s promise to redeem not just the chosen nation of Israel, but everyone. The good news was for “all the people.”  And it was not just a baby boy, but Christ (Messiah) the LORD.  God Himself took on flesh to be our Savior. He would live without sin and then pay for our sin. He would die bearing our punishment. And He would rise in victory to give us entry into life with Him now and life with Him forever.

That is what I’m going to try to remember each time I see a Christmas decoration this year. That is the message I will try to share with others as they speak to me about Christmas decorations. I invite you to do the same. The world needs to be pointed to Jesus, now more than ever.