So, how was your Christmas?
Was it everything you dreamed it would be? Did everything go as planned without any family drama?
Were all the decorations beautiful?
Have you been listening to Christmas music since the day after Thanksgiving? Have you been drinking egg nog for the last three weeks? Have you spent hours shopping while listening to Salvation Army bells ringing?
Are you glad it’s over?
Are you a little tired of the parties, the celebrations, the concerts, the pageants, the tons of gift wrapping, the crowds, and the never-ending tunes about lights, bells, joy, and Santa?
Fact is if you are tired of it all and are ready for life to get back to normal, then you’re human and not an elf, and that’s an important truth to consider.
Celebrating Christmas has completely worn me out. I’ve had my fill of carols, smiles, joy, and jingle bells… even eggnog. I need a break.
And believe it or not, these feelings we have after Christmas – the weariness of celebration – point to the fact that we have not been fully redeemed; our bodies are still waiting for that final transformation.
[We] also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. – Romans 8:23b CSB
What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor can corruption inherit incorruption. Listen, I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this corruptible body must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body must be clothed with immortality. – 1 Corinthians 15:50-53 CSB
So, just imagine how difficult it would be to survive heaven for more than a day or two?
Not only will we need new bodies that never grow old, get weak, and want to go to bed before sundown, but we will need to be set free from all the chains of this mortal flesh – everything that turns an elf into a Grinch around December 26th or 27th.
Our corruptible minds and bodies must be exchanged for that which is incorruptible, else we won’t be able to endure the eternal and glorious celebration that is to come.
Without being changed, heaven would be full of worn-out billion-year-olds leaving the dirty dishes for the angels to deal with.
Heaven will be a celebration of the Redeemer by the redeemed.
So don’t be surprised when I say, “You must be born again” (John 3:7 NLT).
If the corruptible got in, heaven wouldn’t stay heaven for long; it would feel like hell.
Think about it: Are you ready for Heaven?
The Recovering Legalist 
I dislike Christmas because it’s pagan accoutrements and basically evade every part of it I can.
For the past 20 years I wake up with a joy unmatched on Dec. 26.
Two things. First, I support your right to be a grinch. Second, at least you agree with the “redemption” part, right?
Ha ha, thanks. I was always a skeptic about the Christmas Tree though, even when I was a little girl.
“Daddy, what does that have to do with Jesus?”
Then I grew up and started studying the Bible for myself and came across the passages in Jeremiah which talk about a pagan religion that very much resembles Catholicism and the part about decking the tree and WHOA!
Well… that part about decking the tree… not talking about putting up a tree in the same way as a decorated Christmas tree. The context is making lifeless idols of wood and beautifying them like they were real gods, even though they were worthless.
And the Christmas tree is rooted in what?
That same tradition.
Once my atheist sister in law took a comparative religions class. She was so delighted to inform me of the origins of all the Christmas traditions I so happily celebrated.
I hated her at the time for saying something I felt was so disrespectful to Christ. (Like the white hot anger that flares up and goes away soon.)
But then I read “The Two Babylons” and I realized she was right.
Got a problem with Hanukkah?
I don’t really have a problem with Christmas other than it makes me depressed. I mean, I just have an opinion about it that I usually keep to myself. Because trust me, no one ever wants their Christmas parade rained on.
I think I’m old enough now that I realize that whatever I think about it isn’t going to change anyone’s mind and I never seek to do that.
But any Christmas tinged thing I can avoid, I do.
Hanukkah, no problem with because I never ever judge the Jews.
It does seem sort of strait forward though. Celebrating the Maccabees victory over Syria. With the miracle of not running out of oil thrown in for good measure.
I actually preached/taught on Hanukkah Sunday night. There are actually good reasons to celebrate it, even as Christians. And if Jesus celebrated it, then it’s at least worth a serious look.
I can go with you on that!