This seems to be the biggest time of year when people deal with sorrow. Christmas is the time when we are suppose to be filled with emotions like joy, peace, hope, and gladness. Families and friends are suppose to be united and embracing one another with love, reaching out to each other with gifts and, serving with acts of kindness. For may that simply is not true. Christmas for many is a time when they reflect on the pains and losses they have faced in the past or deal with daily. Losses become more of a reality. An issue that must be faced and dealt with. This season of the year has the highest rates of depression and suicide than any other time of year. Some of us will be rejoicing in the gifts we give, receive, time with family and friends. Others will be broken and depressed because of their losses and aloneness. There will be some that will take their own lives out of desperation because they see no hope.
This year it is estimated that Americans will spend over $52 billion dollars on Christmas gifts and decor. On the top of the charts for gifts to give and receive are smart phones, tablets, mp3's, electronic toys, digital games, and gift cards. Why? because they are trying to usher in the emotional pleasures they hope for by way of gifts. With that said, where is Christ in that? He is not. These kinds of gatherings and gifts only offer temporary pleasures. The lack of ushers is disappointment, despair, and sadness. It seems to me that greed, materialism, and covetedness is at the core of Christmas for some. For others the core of Christmas is hurt and pain.
In our hearts and minds, Christmas should never be about sorrow and pain. But what if sorrow is what it takes to really make Christmas a season of joy, peace, hope, and gladness? I believe this is true. I am convinced that there is a sorrow that makes Christmas not just a season of great feelings, but a lifetime of joy, peace, gladness and hope. The sorrow I am talking of is called godly sorrow. The bible speaks of this sorrow in II Corinthians chapter 7.
So what is godly sorrow? How can it make Christmas an everlasting pleasure and not just a season celebrated once per year? Godly sorrow is recognizing the true purpose of Christmas. Yes it is about Christ, but not just His birth. Christmas is about God sending His son to earth in the form of a baby to live a life homeless and rejected. He was hated, despised and betrayed so that He would suffer a brutal gruesome death on a cross. He was crucified and shed His blood not because of His righteousness, but because He chose to bear the sins of the world on His shoulders. He chose to be the the atoning blood sacrifice for your sins.
Godly sorrow is the key to Christmas. When our perspective is right, then you see yourselves standing before the cross looking Christ in the eyes as He suffers a brutal gruesome death on your behalf. It is accepting and facing the reality of what really happened. Imagine the sorrow you would feel watching in person Jesus Christ suffered such horror because of you. You cant even imagine the emotions and pain you would feel witnessing that first hand. Well guess what? that is what Christmas is all about. Not the cute baby born in a manger, gifts, family, songs, trees, lights, cookies, candy canes, carols, or any of that. It is the gift of God wrapped in the form of a beautiful baby born unto man. As the gift is unwrapped you find the life of Christ leading to the forgiveness and redemption of your sins on a bloody gruesome cross.
How can this lead to an everlasting celebration and not just a season? Godly sorrow leads to the brokenness of man's heart because of his sin. It is in that sorrow and brokenness that repentance is ushered in. Through repentance, we do not just confess our sins, we give them to Christ on the cross and allow Him to shed His blood over them. In doing so, that sin is put to death and redeemed for. We should not allow it to return any more. Apart from repentance, confession is nothing more than making known your sin and looking Christ in the eye as He hangs on the cross and saying, "What you are doing is not good enough." True repentance leads to salvation. Salvation that puts life in its proper perspective knowing that what Christ did was good enough.
Most likely, you will be given all kinds of presents this Christmas wrapped in all kinds of beautiful packages. However, if you choose to leave these gifts wrapped and never open them, the contents inside remain worthless to you. It does not matter how much was spent or the value of its contents, without receiving it and opening it, the contents remain worthless. Godly sorrow is the motivation we need to unwrapped the life of baby Jesus and receive His intended gift of redemption and eternal life. This is a gift that will not expire, out date, need upgraded, have to be exchanged, or have new contracts signed. This is a gift that is eternal. A gift that brings redemptions and life, even to the most broken, hardest hurt, deepest depressed, and strongest of sinner of every man. It does not get any better than that, a gift that gives beyond every season.
Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Matthew 20:28
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
II Corinthians 7:10
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
II Corinthians 5:17
May my life be the proof and evidence of His love!
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