The Voices of Christmas

by Dr. Paul Chappell

"And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."

John 1:21-29

Which voice will you listen to this season?

The story is told of two young boys who were spending the night at their grandparents' house the week before Christmas. At bedtime, the two boys knelt beside their beds to say their prayers. The younger one began praying at the top of his lungs: "I PRAY FOR A NEW BICYCLE, I PRAY FOR A NEW NINTENDO..." His older brother leaned over, nudged him, and said, "Why are you shouting? God isn't deaf." To which the little brother replied, "No, but Grandma is!"

There are many voices this time of year who call out to us. Like this little boy, some of the voices are loud and demanding. They command attention and are seen everywhere. Some voices are quiet and less invasive. But whatever the type of voice, many are calling out to you this Christmas.

Some voices denounce the birth of Christ and seek to include all faiths, beliefs, and religions this time of year. They have a front of "peace" that seeks "unity"; yet their message discredits the very reason we celebrate Christmas-Jesus' birth.

Some voices are more joyous, focusing on presents and cheer, but be wise to their motive. While some people will enjoy the season and promote the festive spirit displayed, they focus on materialism and promote happiness through possessions.

If you have children, you probably understand this voice best. Commercials tell them they have to have the newest and latest this time of year. Stores center ads around capturing the attention of children. Even "grown-up" commercials spew the message that if you aren't buying a new car or jewelry for your spouse, you won't be happy.

But there's another voice that calls out to you this season. It's the voice that is shown in John 1 that called people to come to Christ, understand His gift, and accept His salvation. Jesus is calling out to you right now. As a Christian, He wants you to celebrate the birth of His Son with Him. He wants you to ring the bell of Christmas and tell others of His good news.

If you're not a Christian, God desires that you would come to Him for your Christmas present this year. He has given you something better than a new car, a diamond bracelet, or the latest gadget. His gift doesn't come with a payment plan or a price you'll be paying for months. In fact, God promises that His present will provide you peace of mind and eternal security.

If you've never heard of this gift, spend a few minutes right now reading about His gift. Read about the reason we celebrate this season and how you can have peace on earth today.