Why Joy?
The lyrics to a traditional Christmas song go something like this, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Everyone needs to be of good cheer.” The song talks about it being “the happiest season of all”.
Modern retailers tell us we should be joyful, but fail to provide a reason why.
“Celebrate” and “Believe?” Celebrate and Believe what?
Recently, when I approached a popular coffee shop the sign on the door read, “Create Wonder and Share Joy”. Another local coffee shop wrote something about joy on their door as well. Their sign even mentioned “peace”. And many retail stores tell me I need to buy the people in my life a “holiday gift.” Why would I want to buy anyone a “holiday gift”? It seems so meaningless.
The secular world tells us we should celebrate this time of year and that we should have joy. I am not sure why. It’s the beginning of winter.
A white Christmas has lasting meaning when it represents Christ coming to cover the sins of believers with His pure righteousness.
Meaningless Meaning
Many of the movies and TV shows concerning this time of year talk about “The Spirit of Christmas”. They also mention the words of joy and peace, but they fail to tell us what we should be joyful about. They make up some shallow, fleeting meaning to Christmas and mention that whimsical Spirit of Christmas. The meanings they conjure up for these things work really well with the plot of the show and its secular worldview. Unfortunately, those meanings lack any lasting value.
But there is something wonderful about the true meaning of Christmas. And it does offer peace and joy. It deals not only with birth of a baby, but the death and resurrection of a man who just happens to be the Son of God and the Lord of all.
The world wants all that Christmas offers, but does not want to surrender to the one who offers it. We cannot have joy and peace and forget about the one who gives the ultimate joy and peace.
The wise among us still seek the true meaning of Christmas. Image credit: The Journey of the Three Kings By Leopold Kupelwieser, courtesy the Diocese de Rouen
True Joy and Meaning
The only way to find joy and peace that is everlasting is by trusting Jesus and following after Hi as the Bible says. That doesn’t mean that our days here on earth will be full of joy and peace, but it does mean something far better. After we leave this world, we will have an eternal Christmas filled with an eternal, joy, eternal peace and forever experience the true meaning of Christmas.
Note: This article first appeared on my old blog in December 2013. In 2014 I updated it and transferred it to this site.
Some additional reading about the meaning of Christmas
This one is more theological side from Grace to You Ministries
This is one is more the personal side from Dawson McAllister
And more on the joy of Christmas from Desiring God