“'I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to His temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,' says the Lord Almighty.”
-Malachi 3:1 (NIV, emphasis added)
The twinkling of the colored lights as they refract off the Christmas ornaments…
The crackling of the fire as it emits a soft, calming glow…
The look of awe and wonder at the gifts piled under the tree…
The snow falling outside as instrumental Christmas music softly plays in the background of a warm home…
The candlelight that blends with the voices echoing “Silent Night” at the Christmas Eve service.
All of these things are good. In all the hustle and bustle and the endless lists of extra things to keep track of and coordinate, there’s something about the Christmas season that is also refreshing and joyous. The holiday cheer in the air brings a smile. And yet, I wonder if sometimes these good things, when not placed in their right position, can become an idol - a cheap substitute for the real thing.
When we look at Scripture, God’s people often turn to idols in moments when they are spiritually hungry, distressed, or fearful of the unknown. Turning to idols is often brash, choosing comfort or ease instead of doing the hard work of repentance and pursuing the relationship that God offers.
I’m at a point in my life where we’ve worked through the temptation of “doing it all” at Christmas. We’ve realigned so the season doesn’t feel like a non-stopping merry-go-round. But I’m learning that the pendulum can swing the other way too. The very good things that come with holiday cheer and joy aren’t worth it if I’ve sacrificed time alone and corporately with God. It’s just an idol of a different name. If I’m honest, sometimes it’s easier to spend my energy cultivating holiday cheer moments, or pausing to be alone with the fire and Christmas tree for my own sake. Instead, God is calling us to come to the manger, adore Him, repent, and go proclaim His Good News.
The happy feelings that come with the pretty Christmas lights, the glowing fire, the candlelight of “Silent Night” are empty if I’m chasing peace instead of chasing time with Love Incarnate. The smiles and laughs of opening gifts and spunky kids who look adorable in their Christmas jammies are great in the moment… but if that alone is our sole purpose, we miss out on a chance to really invite God into our celebrations and times together as a family.
If I’m chasing holiday moments…
Or focusing my energy on cultivate the holiday perfection I want for my family…
If I’m placing those holiday cheer moments above the stillness of receiving the magnitude of Immanuel…
I have made holiday cheer an idol over the One Who Came.
As we go about with all the good things of the holiday season - the fireplace, time with loved ones, cozy homes with fun Christmas music – let’s put those good things in their proper place. Let’s not only fight the busyness and the temptation to do more, but also fight the temptation of putting the good things above the real reason we celebrate this season. Let’s choose relationship with the God we celebrate instead of singularly focusing on the holiday cheer.
