The harsh reality of Christmas

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.

John 3:16-18

It's that time of the year again. Frantic last minute shopping, lelong sales everywhere, rehashing old unwanted presents for office gift exchanges, ugly Singaporeans exhibiting the worst of themselves at shopping centres across the island and that unmistakable monster of a traffic congestion at every corner of Orchard Road.

For all intents and purposes, I believe that Christmas started off with the right note. Although some reseachers believe that Christ was born in late October, everyone knows that Christmas is celebrated to commemorate His birth. Along the way, however, a jolly, fat, bearded old man with a hearty laugh and dressed in a red suit flying around in a sleigh driven by reindeers gets thrown into the picture. Then all hell breaks loose and people start buying presents not only for children to keep the story of Santa Claus alive, but for grown ups as well.

People know that Christmas is the time for giving, but many do so miserably more for the sake of conforming to society while missing the driving force behind the spirit of giving.

God gave His ONE and ONLY Son to die for the world, to redeem us from our sins so that we may come before Him, spotless and free from sin. Imagine that – His ONE and ONLY Son. The Lord of heaven and earth, with all the power that created the universe, who created man and everything around us, He could just give up on us and let us revel in our sin. Or worse, he could just smite us out of our very existence. But instead, He sends His Son to die for US so that we have a Way to Him, His Kingdom and hence, eternal life.

He loved and He gave. So that we may believe and live eternally. For those who don't, I can only say 'What are you waiting for?!'

How cool is that? Think of that tonight as you’re exchanging gifts.

Merry Christmas.