What Christmas Came to Destroy

My husband murmured a few days ago, “It’s been a rough year. I’m ready for 2018 to be over.”

It’s true it’s been one crazy year filled with heartache, brokenness, and weariness, but not hopelessness. Not once did I feel hopeless.

The truth is we aren’t hopeless when we fully understand why Jesus came, died, rose, reigns, and is coming again.

 The year may not have gone as you’ve expected, but because of Jesus hope is never lost. At this time of year, let’s remember that Jesus is more than a historical fact or a cute baby in a manger. He’s the message of hope sent by God to each of us.

“The reason why the Son of Man appeared was to destroy the works of the devil” 1 John 3:8.

 The truth is: Christmas came to destroy the works of the enemy providing hope for all.

Our Enemy is Defeated

That’s right…our enemy is defeated.

I can hear it now like a howl through our aching broken hearts…If we stand victorious than why do we have seasons, or even years of things happening causing us to break into a thousand pieces, feeling as if all hope is lost? Why does it feel like if maybe this enemy is winning?

Here’s a little secret: He only thinks he’s winning because we let him. Have you ever watched a fight where the winner was declared, but the loser kept fighting? Looks ridiculous I know, except this is how our enemy looks.

Hope Restored

Yeah-I know it’s Christmas. And we’re all about trimming the tree and buying presents, not thinking about how the enemy prowls around looking to destroy us. If we don’t take time to grab hold of all that Jesus came to do we leave room for the enemy to wear us down…especially during the holidays.

I imagine the enemy shaking in his boots as the angels first appeared to the shepherds on the first Christmas night. He might even have been laughing because Jesus appeared as a baby and a bunch of angels announced his birth to some lowly shepherds. See tending sheep was a lowly job and despised by many. But then the angels declared God’s glory by saying,

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests” Luke 2:14.

God came to earth to bring peace. This word peace in the Greek means purpose and pleasure. I’ve been praying this verse over my family for the last few weeks:

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” John 10:10.

Jesus came for us to live an abundant life, full of goodness and purpose. The enemy loves chaos, fear-driven prayers, and an atmosphere where we feel hopeless, and we find ourselves living a life of weariness and dread rather than abundance. We can’t give in to that!

Gratitude Kills all Hopelessness

When my dad was first diagnosed with brain cancer a few months ago I texted a friend these words, “I feel like I’m walking down a dark hall, I feel Jesus with me, but it’s dark and unknown, and I just want to get on a plane and pretend this isn’t happening.”

 I remember the weight of it but also recognized the weight of His presence. I remember lying in bed with my sister next to me and forcing myself to name the blessings of the day. Because maybe gratitude is the way we authentically remember the hope of Jesus in the middle of our present sorrow.

“The surgeon got 80-90% of the tumor.”

“Dad wants to fight this, and he is strong,” my sister uttered.

As I drifted off to sleep the first night after the diagnosis, I thanked God for His presence and the gift of family.

Here’s the thing: Gratitude kills all hopelessness.

There’s no room for despair if we remember all that God has done.

No matter what the outcome of 2019 is, Hope remains. Our lives, as Christians, should never be labeled hopeless, failing, or purposeless. Our lives should be overflowing with purpose and hope even in the midst of troubles.

We can’t afford to lose hope because if hope is lost, the meaning of Christmas is forfeited.

So, when you see Christmas trees all lit up and the baby lying in a manger or when you’re tearing open your gifts on Christmas morning, remember Jesus came to destroy the works of the enemy, and give us a life of abundance!