Facts, Faith, Freedom, and Fantasy are not the same

 We are well into the Christmas season as evidenced in the stores, the festive clothing people are wearing, and the lights and decorations that are showing up daily in yards around town. This is a time when we tend to reflect on the past and times when we shared joys of the season with loved ones who are no longer with us. There may also be a sense of melancholy in the air with thoughts of what could have been. Then, lest we forget, there are some people who have heavy hearts due to thoughts of the family and friends who are either physically distant, emotionally distant or both.

Not everyone can claim the blessing of having a church family, I gratefully do have people in this category in my life, some of whom I have known for decades or even for most of my life. I am grateful for these people I know, with whom I share a faith in God. Some of my best memories of Christmastime are connected with the message of Jesus birth that I share at church with family and friends. These are people who I not only love enough to call family, but who love Jesus enough to follow his teachings. There is only one thing I would care to be in want of at this time of year, or any time of year, really. I will get to that in a few minutes.

Some people focus on the fantasy of Christmastime and its commercialism. The shopping, the parties, the lights and decorations everywhere are very nice. I am personally a big fan of all that is Santa Claus when it comes to fun family feel good movies. These Christmas movies are part of what fills my heart at Christmastime. My mind clearly understands that they are fantasy, but the draw for me is the storyline that invariably depicts human kindness and good will. As nice as these movies are, I cannot imagine how much longing and unfulfilling the Christmas season would be had I been lacking in the true meaning of Christmas. I am one of the fortunate ones who was raised knowing about the Birth of Jesus Christ, and that He was God's one and only son. My knowledge and understanding of all that entails has only grown and changed over my lifetime, but I am ever grateful that I know this as fact, to the best of my knowledge (that can be supported by archeological evidence as well as the fact that the Holy Bible is an anthology of 66 books written by at least 40 authors over a period of 1,500 years and over three continents: Asia, Europe, and Africa).

I am also grateful to live in a country where I have the Freedom to talk about Jesus and his teachings and live by its principles as outlined in the Holy Bible. We learn history (His story) as described in the Old Testament (creation and the foretelling of Christ) and New Testament that discusses the life of Christ as well as foreshadowing what will be in the end times. Yet, no matter what I believe, or what you believe, there are many people who do not even connect Christmas with the birth of Christ. This is not to say that they were not raised in this truth, some were. Some people have never heard the truth about Jesus Christ, and some people were taught about Jesus at a young age but got caught up in worldly things and let their relationship with Jesus' falter or altogether dissipate into nothingness.

I was one of those people who learned about Jesus at a young age but then got caught up into my wants and then, although technically, I didn't "lose" my faith, I stopped growing in my relationship with Christ and fed my worldly desires off and on for many years. I came up emptier and more unfulfilled than when I first began to understand the meaning of what being a Christ follower truly meant. It was only after renewed fellowship with other believers, time in God's word, and focus on seeking the truth that I began to grow again and continue to grow still. I believe that if we are not continuing to grow, we die.

I believe that I am at a place in my life and my spiritual growth, that I know too much of the truth to fall back into the worldly rabbit hole that still exists for so many. And this brings me back to where I left off at the end of the second paragraph of this blog where I stated the following: There is only one thing I would care to be in want of at this time of year, or any time of year, really. The one thing that I am in "want" of is not a worldly want or desire. It is a spiritual want I have for YOU. It is something I want for my children and grandchildren; it is something I want for your children and grandchildren, and your parents, and your other family members and your friends, and the people we meet on the street, or in the grocery store, or anywhere. I want you to meet Jesus, to know that Jesus is the only Good News available to ALL people, no matter what they have done, what has been done to them, or where they have been, a relationship with Jesus is available to everyone.

If you want something REAL in your life, go someplace quiet, where there are no distractions. Sit quietly and simply ask God to reveal the truth to you. Then, if you have access to a Bible (if you have a computer or phone, you have access through websites or apps), read or listen to the book in the New Testament of the Bible - 1 John, chapter 1, then listen to the rest of it (5 chapters all together). Then, if you are interested in developing a relationship with Christ, read Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John....

This world is filled with many temptations and distractions that lure people into meaningless pits of longing for more yet result in them finding less. These things may temporarily fill a want or need yet sometimes leave us feeling emptier than before. Everyone worships something, there are many mini gods in this world. Some of them included in this category may hit a nerve with you, yet you know it is true. They are things like: money, sex, drugs, a job, sports team, shopping, a person... need I go on? You get my drift.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that God is opposed to us enjoying things this world offers. After all, God created the heavens AND the Earth (Genesis: 1). I would even venture to guess that God wants us to enjoy some things the earth avails to us. I am just sharing my opinion about some things here. If you have any doubt about your choices, or things I say, or things someone else suggests are true etc. consult God's word. There are many false teachings in the world, and it is even becoming more evident that so called "Christian" churches are diminishing or ignoring the word of God altogether. They are in their own way creating their own false God. So, when in doubt "consult" the Holy Bible.

Well, I have gone on longer than I had planned for this writing, I hope I haven't lost your attention by now. It is at this time of year that I have an increased longing for people to grasp the true meaning of Christmas. I hope that my goal was accomplished for you, my reader. I pray that Christ is revealed to you either for the first time, or just a little bit brighter for you this Christmas season!