Christmas Reminds Us of Our Greatest Need and Our Greatest Gift

By Billy Graham, Christian Post Guest Columnist

Q: I heard someone say recently that church people ought to stop celebrating Christmas because it's become so materialistic and secular that we no longer realize what it's all about. Do you think he has a point? - Mrs. C.F.

A: I don't think we ought to stop celebrating Christmas, but I do agree that we've lost sight of its true meaning. All too often, I'm afraid, we have left Christ out of Christmas, and yet (as the popular saying goes) He truly is "the reason for the season."

Instead of focusing on what Christmas has become, however, let's focus instead on what it can become for us, no matter what others do. Christmas celebrates the coming of Jesus Christ into the world, which set in motion the greatest event in human history. What better time to stop and reflect on what God did for us by sending His only Son into the world?

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Why is Christmas important? It's important first of all because it reminds us of our greatest need: to be forgiven of our sins and reconciled to the God who created us. If we could solve this need by ourselves, Christ wouldn't have had to leave heaven's glory and come to earth. But He did -- because God loves us, and He wants us to know Him and spend eternity with Him.

Christmas reminds us too of what God has done for us. We could never save ourselves -- but Christ came to save us by His death and resurrection. Make Christ the center of your Christmas this year -- and then you'll begin to understand the greatness of God's gift to us that first Christmas. As the Bible says, "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

Affectionately known as the "World's Preacher" for more than 60 years, the Rev. Billy Graham is one of the most influential and respected spiritual leaders of the 20th century. He has been a friend and spiritual advisor to ten American presidents and has preached the Gospel to more people in live audiences than anyone else in history - nearly 215 million people in more than 185 countries and territories - through various meetings. Hundreds of millions more have been reached through television, video, film, and webcasts. Send your queries to "My Answer," c/o Billy Graham, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, N.C., 28201; call 1-(877) 2-GRAHAM, or visit the Web site for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association: www.billygraham.org.

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