Christmas day has come and gone, we are on the verge of another year and yet some of the “warmth” of the season hangs on. What is special about this time of year? To some it’s known as the Christmas season. Others it’s Hanukkah. Still others it means nothing. None the less, this time of year (at least in the U.S.) it’s a time when warmth, family, loneliness, love, and ultra selfish materialism converge. What is this period of the year supposed to be about? For me personally this time of year always brings to my forefront multiple significant higher points of thought.

I understand where Christmas comes from. I understand that its roots come from a dark pagan tradition. I understand how it was transformed into a “christian” tradition. I understand from a Christian perspective that Jesus was not born on December 25th or any time in December for that matter. I have seen the evidence of all of the above and I believe it to be true, but to me this isn’t what I want to dwell on this time of year.

The Bible paints a picture in the book of Matthew of Wise Men, Kings of East, making inquiry to King Herod about a King of the Jews.

“Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Matthew 2:2,3.

Now I can understand Herod having a troubled disposition from a socioeconomic and political perspective. However it may seem difficult to understand why the rest of Jerusalem was troubled at the news of this King. After all, this was their Messiah, the one that was going to free them from oppression. It would seem that they would be overjoyed, not troubled.

After demanding more intel on this Christ, the Jewish leaders started to breakdown ancient prophecies to Herod.

“And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.” Matthew 2:5,6

Here was this King of the Jews born in Bethlehem, the Jewish pastors and presidents knew it yet they did nothing. Why? To them the coming of the Messiah was the single most important event and yet they did nothing. Was it pride and self preservation as spiritual leaders? In any case they missed the boat. They missed one of the most incredible opportunities known to man, an opportunity to be earthly heralds of Emmanuel, God with Us. From this point forward began their rejection of Christ.

“Now pride and envy closed the door against the light. If the reports brought by the shepherds and the wise men were credited, they would place the priests and rabbis in a most unenviable position, disproving their claim to be the exponents of the truth of God. From this point their pride and stubbornness grew into a settled hatred of the Saviour. While God was opening the door to the Gentiles, the Jewish leaders were closing the door to themselves.” Desire of Ages pg. 62

Here we are 2000 years later on the verge second most important event in this earths history, the second coming of Jesus Christ. The scriptures with a clarion voice tell of this event in the most illustrious way. Here we are 2000 years later from the birth and life of Jesus and as followers of Him we have been called to be human agents heralding to a perishing world this stupendous event. The Bible says that all eyes will see Jesus’ return but is possible that we could miss it in our hearts?

As the religious leaders at the time of Jesus missed the first advent because of pride and neglect, we are in the same danger of missing or not being ready for Christ’s soon return. Because of pride, tradition, lack of heart revival and reformation, lack of witnessing and secular absorption, some will be lost forever. There is a saying that many will be lost by 18 inches, the distance from your head to your heart. Some will have all the head knowledge and no heart revival. Others will have have an emotional religious experience but have not rooted their faith in Biblical truth.

Christmas may have roots in paganism, it may not be the official time of Christ birth, but it’s a special time to me because instead of fretting and worrying of this present darkness, I have the opportunity to let Christ come in and transform my heart. Its another opportunity to refocus my commitment to the mission of Christ, a commitment of heralding to the world the second advent of Jesus.

Where is your heart?