the DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS

The day after Christmas, when Christ is not the center of a life, can be no more than another day with more stuff and more strife.  The world goes from commercialism to consumerism and all because they miss the spirit of Christ as the greatest gift ever given.  And within the next few days, the tree and lights become yesterday’s delights. The “joy” lingering in the air begins to evaporate and turns into New Years resolutions and the next things to anticipate. The day after Christmas for a nonbeliever must be unknowingly the saddest day of the year. How so? Because to be oh so close, yet so far away from the God who came near. All around people were lauding the truth about the Lord being born—O come let us adore Him—yet a heart that does not behold Him is left in the condition of torn.  The day after Christmas, when Jesus is not your Savior, can be no more than another day trying to live life on your best behavior. Because if you don’t believe in His birth, you cannot be redeemed by His death, and sin is the absolute worst consequence to take with you beyond your last breath.  No good work can save you and your greatest success can do nothing but shame you. For what does it profit a man to gain all the wealth of the world, yet completely be bankrupt and without the Lord? I tell you the truth, it cannot profit the one who does not heed what the prophet said about the Lord Himself giving a sign—“Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).Wow! Immanuel, which means “God with us”—which proves God is for us—a God who came to earth to die in the Person of Jesus. But without the heart preparing Him room, the day after Christmas can be nothing more than a day closer to doom. There can be no joy in this person’s world because they do not believe the Lord has come, they do not believe that God gave us His only begotten Son.And that is why the day after Christmas for so many is a tragedy. It’s a day that has left behind the King of this world and eternity.