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The True Image of
Christmas
Gene Markland
Picture it —
an A-frame chalet in the hills above Gatlinburg Tennessee.
Snow on the ground
and trees covered in ice, making them look like glass.
A roaring fire sets
aglow the prefab fireplace in the left corner of the room.
A huge glass
wall offers a spectacular view of Main Street in Gatlinburg down
below, completely lit with lights and splendid Christmas decorations.
All surrounded by a
forest of glass trees magically shining under a full moon.
The Christmas tree
on the right side of the room is fully decorated with a red tablecloth wrapped
around its base, just begging for the bevy of presents that are soon to come.
This is the scene
as I sit in my overstuffed chair, sipping hot apple cider from my Happy
Holidays mug, reading my new Christmas novel by a favorite author.
The book is a
pleasant read, filled with the atmosphere of Christmastime.
The story unfolds
about a young couple caught up in an adventure with life-changing
circumstances.
A new beginning,
finding love and hope for the future, during the Christmas season.
An entertaining
image ... but what about Christmas?
As I sit reading, I
listen to an Internet radio station playing Christmas music nonstop.
I hear the familiar
strains from artists of yesterday singing about stories of snowmen,
a white Christmas, sleighs, and grandma having an accident with a
reindeer.
Again I wonder...
This is a pleasant
and entertaining Image ... but what about Christmas?
We decorate our
homes, participate in Christmas traditions, but many times we find
ourselves caught up in the image of Christmas.
An image, although
fun, has nothing to do with what Christmas is all about.
Picture this — in a
cave being used as a barn, a young couple is having a baby without a mid-wife,
much less a doctor.
Not even a bed for
the young mother to lay on while she gives birth.
Only a scratchy pile of hay which her anxious husband
hurriedly pushes together to form a makeshift bed, covered with his cloak, as
his young wife squeezes his arm and grimaces, “Hurry! It's coming! It's
coming! Hurry!”
We all know the
stench of animals in a barn as representing a most unsanitary condition.
Yet, this is the
event for which people all around the world celebrate with glitter and candy
canes.
What this poor
desperate young couple did have, though, was the blessing and protection of God
Almighty as His son was brought into the world.
This wasn't a
pleasant or entertaining image ... but this was Christmas.
The Bible teaches
us:
“God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son
into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real
love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a
sacrifice to take away our sins.” (1 John 4:9-10 NLT)
So, this year, as
we watch our favorite Christmas movies, listen to our favorite beautiful
Christmas music, and enjoy all the festivities that encapsulate our
modern-day image of Christmas, remember that cave, used as a barn, where a poor
young struggling mother brought forth the Son of God, the Savior of mankind, in
the most difficult and unglamorous of situations.
Remember how Father
God helped them. And remember the true image of Christmas.
Can God change your
life?
God has made it
possible for you to know Him and experience an amazing change in your own
life. Discover how you can find peace with God. You can also send us your prayer
requests.
Gene Markland is an Author, Speaker, and Entrepreneur. He is the author of Fellowship in the Spirit: Angelic Encounters, Spiritual Warfare, and Effective Intercession are Waiting. He resides in Virginia Beach, Virginia with his wife Martha and daughter Laura. Gene blogs at SpiritFellowship Blogspot. Send Gene your comments.
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