We are the reason for the season? It struck me while reading that popular Christmas phrase one more time. I know I’ve read it hundreds of times. “Jesus is the reason for the season.” But reading it this time made my head tilt to one side with one eye closed. “We are the reason for the season,” I thought to myself.
So many things really are a matter of perspective, aren’t they? It really boggles my mind reading what some people’s idea of God is. One actor’s view is that God is a tyrannical monster whose behavior is utterly unacceptable. One psychologist tweeted that God is basically a sexual predator for the virgin birth stating that Mary was “forced” to bear Jesus. Unfortunately, there are preachers who describe God as an angry ogre always on the brink of reducing, even His people, to a pile of ashes. Then you have the “enlightened elite” who paint a portrait of God who is nothing more than an aloof impersonal life force. No wonder His creation is having a hard time dealing with reality. I’d run from a god like these descriptions as well.
It’s Amazing!
The truth of the matter is that the God of the universe is none of those things. The most amazing thing He has done is wrapped up like a gift in this season we call Christmas. The Creator of the universe, miraculously took on the form of a human being and came to us as an infant. Not quite the pomp and circumstance you’d expect from a megalomaniac monster! Why? Why would He do such a thing and come in such a way that totally hid who He was from His creation! It’s all about Jesus, right? Jesus is the reason for the season! Maybe….
From another perspective, Jesus may not be the “reason” for the season. I know, at first hearing, that sounds like bad doctrine at best and heresy at worst. But hang with me here for a short moment as we turn the camera lens away from us looking toward God and towards Him looking at us. God is a giver. “For God so loved the world that He GAVE His only begotten Son, that whosever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (Jn. 3:16) What greater gift could He give other than Himself? The Creator of the universe took on flesh and blood for the purpose of giving His life for ours. Hardly sounds like an ogre to me.
Who?
Who IS the reason for the season? Is it the baby in a manger? Is it th virgin who finds herself expecting? Is it about wise men searching for a King? Is it about shepherds watching over their flock by night who see a star? Is it about Frankincense, gold and myrrh? Is it about a heavenly host praising God? Certainly, all of these things are puzzle pieces in the Advent record, but what is the REAL reason for the season? Buckle your seat-belts and hold on to your hats, kids……because the REAL reason for the season is YOU! That’s right, YOU. No, that is not a selfish statement because we are looking at this through God’s lens. It is His perspective. Think about this: In God’s perspective, being the giver that He is, WE are the reason for the season! He wants us to be part of His family and crown us heirs of His kingdom. “But when the fulness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” (Gal. 4:4-5) What did He do? He created heirs for His kingdom through Jesus Christ.
It’s about you!
You see, this gift is for you. That silent night was for you. The angels were for you. The wise men were for you. All of the puzzle pieces of the Christmas story were for you. The manger was for you. You are the reason for the season. He did all of this to make a way for your Heavenly citizenship. Yes, from our perspective, Jesus is the reason for the season. But you see, from God’s perspective, WE are the reason for the season. What a gift giver! What a gift! What an incredible God we serve who would do such a thing. To me, the true story is more incredible than the made-up stories by those who don’t know Him.
My prayer for you and your family is that you would be blessed above measure, come to know this incredibly loving, heavenly Father and accept the invitation He has for you to become an heir in His kingdom. This season is about you! We are the reason for the season. It’s all about perspective and I’m thankful for this one.
Merry Christmas from this pastor’s heart to yours.
John Adams has been pastoring New Life Church in Sandusky, Ohio for over 23 years and has served as a law enforcement chaplain for over a decade. He was recently featured as a guest on Michael Hyatt’s “Lead to Win” podcast and teaches “Emotional Survival for Pastors.” For more information, visit: PastorJohn.net