When I first wrote this article
some eight (8) years ago, the great recession of the twenty-first century was
setting in, the name Christmas was facing a lot of beating from the American
Government who later changed it to holidays; little did I know that the
condition of those of us that even follow the way will get so bad, that we
would have increased in number yet having little influence in places the master
asked that we occupy till he comes back.
Well, all hopes its not lost,
it’s the yuletide again, as Christians it was period of hope to mankind, the
celebration of life and even the existence of humankind its hung on him that
was born for Christmas, I said born for because 25th was not really his birth
day, but He had given us the right that whatever two-three of us agree in His
name, heaven approves of it, so men/women that walked this road before us had
fixed it so be it. The birth of Jesus Christ was announced as Joy to the world;
no wonder the popular Christian hymn of “Joy
to the world the Lord has come…”
‘And the angel said to them “ Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you
good news of a great joy which will come to all the people, for to you is born
this day in the city of David a saviour, who is Christ the Lord” Luke 2v10-12
Since the insertion of Christmas
the period serve as a time of rest, love expression and charity, over the year
things went wrong. The preparation for a period of joy as changed to a time of
sorrow, and even after it many fail to allow the light he brought into the
world to live in us, you look around you, check the cables and you understand;
this lead to the title of my article “Crime-mass”
The quest to always live a
celebrative life, some to even mark this period has increased crime. If you
care, check out the crime rate, especially here at home in Nigeria, the rates
are high up there during the yuletide. While the real Christians are preparing
to mark their emancipation from the hold of the devil and sin, others still
with religious mask over them moves bout killing to get money, young people are
committing immoral acts which most at times leads to pregnancy and subsequent
abortions comes January, some families are separated just for a senseless
reason no money to get clothes, travel back to the village.
Then your question would be, what
is this person saying? Should Christmas be cancelled? God forbid that I suggest
such a thing. My submission as you enjoy the Christmas season this year and
years ahead is that we take a sober reflection on our life’s, the state of the
country and the world at large, asking ourselves is the original plan for his
birth still in your view and what of his eminent return, are you ready?. As you
spread love this season, know that love it’s a life style not a seasonal thing:
“love
the say is…patient…kind…not jealous,or boasful, not arrogant or rude…does not
insist on its own ways;…not irritable or resentful;…rejoice not at wrong; but
rejoice in the right…it bears all things, hope all things, endures all things.
Love never ends…” 1 Cor. 13v4-8
The Lord himself cares less about
your materials used for celebration; all the evil means people use in getting
material things he did condemned already, he calls us to a life of
righteousness “do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of
God? Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterous,
nor sexually perverts, nor thieves, nor greedy, nor drunkards, nor robbers,
will inherit the Kingdom of God” I cor.
8v9-10
The religion we are called into,
if you have already accepted Christ as head over your life, that is what it
means to be born-again, calls us to be contented with what will have. 1 Tim 6v6
Bill Musk in his book Unseen face of Islam
said “Christ
the risen king giver of the spirit is the Lord who is present in his people.
Festival devotion that celebrates such presence holds forth a message of hope
in its own very rejoicing”.
No wonder most Christian in the
middle-east invest more significance to the Holy week (Easter celebration) than
the Christmas rite. In some of these places, this is the period that commands
holiday for them.
For me why I celebrate is because
Jesus was raised and I have accepted him as Lord over my life; my question to
you as you read this, have you also done the same? His Jesus now Lord over your
life. Know that neither a special birth nor death would have made any meaning
If he had not resurrected. We must not then allow the celebration of His birth
heat up crime in our society most especially here in Africa. We must stop
copying western way of celebration; spend according to your means. And please
don’t allow this period goes by with you making a decision for Jesus. Heaven
and Hell it’s real!
Merry Christmas and an impactful
2014 I wish you all!
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