WHAT DOES "IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME!" MEAN TO YOU?

May I ask a question? What does it mean to you when you hear the oft-repeated words, “It’s Christmas time!”?  Is it just a common post-Thanksgiving phrase to be replaced by “Happy New Year,” as we move from one celebration to the next? Or is it a reminder of how we have the privilege of being privy to God’s divine design, where He sent forth His Son in the fullness of time.

You see, according to the truth of Scripture, and the trace of cultural times, the arrival of Jesus was not only pre-ordered from eternity, but it was perfectly aligned with humanity and history. The facts surrounding the Christmas story, and the prophecy meticulously pointing to the birth of a Savior, cannot be denied in the grand scheme and unfolding of time. From Adam and Eve right up to the days of you and me—every interaction and situation should be seen through the lens of God’s sovereign persuasion. “In the fullness of time, God sent forth His Son”(Galatians 4:4) to change our life’s trajectory.

Which begs the question:  Are you still living BC or have you entered into AD? (BC is “before Christ” and AD is the “year of our Lord”).

I know that my “life BC” was one of selfishness and recklessness. And though I celebrated Christmas each year, I never lived like Christ was the Lord of my year. And it was only a matter of time before my way of living came to a crashing halt. Many of you who read my blog know the tragedy I am talking about, which sent me away for a long time. However, experiencing Christmas behind the wall for the next four years became more meaningful to me than the 25 before. How so?

Well, it was in the midst of catastrophe that I finally surrendered to “AD.” It was there that Christ’s presence became my greatest gift and infinitely trumped any amount of past Christmas presents. It was in the darkness that I sought the light and then truly gave my life and time to the Lord. As the historical calendar defines time through Jesus’ life, so Jesus changed my time for all time. In fact, He stepped out of time, into time, to change time. And this is why we can trust Him with our time all the time.

You see, “It’s Christmas time!” will forever take on a different tune when you know and live the difference between life “BC” and life “AD.” Before Christ had my heart, time was counting down. But once we come to Him and make Him King, time begins counting up towards eternity. Whether we go to Him or He comes back for us, those who claim Christ in this life will be claimed by Christ in the afterlife.

That’s what "It’s Christmas time!" means to me.

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