“Everything is permissible (allowable and lawful) for me; but not all things are helpful (good for me to do, expedient and profitable when considered with other things). Everything is lawful for me, but I will not become the slave of anything or be brought under its power.” 1 Cor 6:12 (Amp)
As kids, whenever our parents announced that we would be travelling to celebrate Christmas in our home town, we would be too excited and seldom sleep on the eve of our journey. We would count down the hours to the time we finally set out and only sleeping when we reach our journey’s end. These yearly pilgrimages represent pleasant reminders of my youth, as we the kids urge our dad to overtake a slower vehicle and enjoyed the scenery as we raced for home.
So, why did we have to travel home and not stay where we were domiciled for most of the year? Well, it was a time to spend with the family, the most important figure being my grandfather. We usually spend just over a week in our hometown as we enjoyed the festive season. For Christmas, which we normally mark the African way, we would slaughter a ram or goat, which the women would make into delicious stew and serve with rice. Also, in line with African tradition, we would distribute food and exchange meals with our neighbours, wishing each other compliments of the season. I still have happy memories of that time.
Well, one February day, I came back from school and met my dad loading our things into the car. He informed me that my grandfather had passed away after a brief illness. At the ripe age of ninety four, he was very old anyway, so we were not too downhearted about his passing. In fact, in our culture, this calls for celebration and thanksgiving for a life well spent. As expected, we travelled home within days of hearing the news of his death and buried him with fanfare. In December, as was our custom, we travelled for the festive season, but this time around there was no grandfather to welcome us home. His conspicuous absence caused us to quickly realise that he was the real reason we make the journey every year, and with him gone, things were never the same again.
You may have noticed a silent revolt that has been ongoing for a while now. The politically correct lobby have been advocating taking Jesus Christ out of Christmas for whatever reason they might think up. They even suggested changing the offending name Christmas to winter festival so as not to offend non-Christians. The commercial lobby keep pumping us with merchandise and keep repeating the lie that buying and selling is the reason for the season in the quest to make us part with our hard earned money. The music industry is not far behind either, as they try their very best to plug their products by hyping up the competition for who would be number one on the music chart at Christmas. One fact that all keep quiet about is that Jesus Christ is the real reason for the season and that without recognising His accomplishment on the cross, Christmas means absolutely nothing, for it is Him we are celebrating.
Hence, this Christmas, do all you can to put Jesus Christ where He truly belongs – at the centre of your celebration, for He is the only way to fully savour the real flavour of Christmas. Replace your self-indulgent mindset and pursuits with the God-centred and spiritually expedient activities that will honour Him. By all means enjoy the celebration, but please do not sideline the celebrant for He is the real reason for the season.
Prayer:
Lord, it is once again that time of the year when the flesh is indulged often at the expense of the spirit. Help me to do nothing that will impugn your name, however lawful that might be. Come and be my Lord especially at this Christmas period. Amen.