Like most people, Christmas isn’t foreign to me. We’ve celebrated it in our home ever since I can remember. And that’s a funny thing to consider when I think about it– simply because I didn’t get saved until I was 21 years old. Yet, I celebrated Jesus every year in December before salvation.
I had to look it up (that’s how my curious mind works) but according to the Catholic Encyclopedia, the word Christmas originates from the phrase “Christe Maesse” which means the Mass of Christ. In other words, it was a day (or mass) in which people gathered to celebrate the birth of Christ.
This is what got me thinking about the here and now, and the future.
Will we celebrate Christmas in eternity?
I believe yes we will! I’m not imagining tree trimming and stockings hung on the mantle. But if the real meaning of Christmas is a celebration of Christ coming to earth to seek and save us; if the real meaning behind our gathering is a celebration of God’s immense love for the world because “He sent His only Son that whosoever would believe in Him would have eternal life” (John 3:16), then YES– there will be a perpetual occasion to celebrate Christ!
One writer said it this way: The good news of Christmas is that even when the world or our circumstances change – the message of Christmas is timeless. Because Christmas is about the birth of God’s Son – Jesus. It is about how He came to give us love, hope and joy. That message doesn’t change from year to year.
This message won’t change in eternity either!
Some people think the true meaning of Christmas has been lost or at least watered down by all the commercialism. I don’t disagree, but not in my home; not in my heart.
Christmas lives in the hearts of individuals. My mom and grandparents had Jesus in their heart so it was a beautiful thing to celebrate with gifts and gatherings when I was a little girl. They showed me the love of Jesus my entire life. Some of my best memories are of Christmas morning with my family.
My point is, so what if the world doesn’t get it. Do you? When you say Merry Christmas to the customer service lady on the other end of the phone when she is only allowed to say Happy Holidays, are you saying it because you know what it means? I know I am. I’m literally saying Merry “Christ was born and came into the world to save me and you!” And more often than not, my statement gives them permission to say it back (with delight, I might add)!
Eternity is defined as timelessness, infinite or unending time. The book of Revelation gives us a glimpse of eternity. The four living creatures will not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” (Revelation 4:8). This sounds a lot like the greeting the shepherds received on the night Jesus was born: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:14).
The angels declared it then and will never stop declaring the love and holiness of God. Eternity will be all about Christmas: the celebration of Christ!
So as you gather with your family, share your faith. Don’t assume everyone around the tree understands what you’re celebrating. Let us make Jesus the center of it all– now and forever.
