Keep an Eternal Perspective This Christmas

Read Time / 3 Minutes

Theme / Personal Reflection

We recently drove around town one evening looking at Christmas lights. There were many decorated homes, but one was over-the-top. The decorations are impossible to accurately describe, but there were literally hundreds of figures adorned in Christmas attire. We stepped out of the car so we could stand awhile and try to take it all in.

Among the Grinches, toy soldiers, Winnie the Poohs, and Mickey Mouses, was a Nativity off to one side. It was refreshing to see, especially in contrast to the commercialization of Christmas we all see this time of year. As with most Nativity scenes, baby Jesus in the manger was the focus of attention for Mary, Joseph, angels, wise men, and farm animals surrounding the Christ-child.

The presence of the Nativity alongside the sea of Santa Clauses, snowmen, and penguins, made me stop and think. “What am I focusing on this Christmas season?” It is an important question, because Jesus was much more than just an infant in a feed trough. Nine months before His birth, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and said: “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” (Luke 1:31-33)

Christ’s birth began a kingdom that will never end. The kingdom, in its final state, will be an eternal kingdom beyond description, led by the resurrected Christ who is beyond description: “To us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6).

This Christmas, let’s enjoy the lights and festivities of the season, but keep an eternal perspective on the reason we celebrate. The lights on the over-the-top house will be taken down after the holidays, but Christ’s kingdom will never end. Let’s focus on the King and His eternal kingdom this Christmas!

Doug Hanson, MBA

Wealth Advisor

208.697.3699

doug@christianwm.com