December 18, 2000
When is Christmas over?
Eternal answer is settled
___By BO Baker
___It's worth the wonder to ask, "When is Christmas over?"
___What of the afterglow? A worthy question, I should think.
___Is it over when the last gift is taken from the tree, the last carol sung, when the decorations are finally taken down and the last guest gone? Is it over when the belfry lies silent of its sounding, visits completed, the final departing kiss is given and received?
___Does one ring closure to Christmas?
___There was a time when the angels knew their assignment was completed and they "went away into the heavens."
B O BAKER
___The shepherds returned to "keeping watch over their flocks."
___The wise men found the infant Jesus, the object of their adoration, and, after bringing their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, "they returned home another way."
___Was this the end of Christmas as they knew it, or did it continue to be the best news mother Earth would ever hear? In other words, did the discovery of the Christ Child truly make a difference, or was it merely a beautiful story to be told and retold as part of the legacy of Christendom?
___I am only one, but I am one and claim my right of personal faith and expression. My confidence is that this tiny offspring of Mary's womb was truly of divine conception, was indeed nothing more or less than the incomparable Son of God! He remains today authentic--the incarnate Hope-bringer, Life-changer, Peace-giver, the Love-gift of our heavenly Father.
___Upon this confession of faith, believers throughout the world rest their case. He is rightfully Christ above all or no Christ at all! He is Lord and does in truth "hold the whole world in his hands." Thus the conclusion--Christmas, in the truest sense, can never, never be over! Christmas is, after all, not so much a time to be observed as a Savior to be celebrated.
___It is the "afterglow" of a holy work of God. Christmas can only be over for those who have no time or place for God in their lives, those who refuse to bow before the one "born to be King."
___May I humbly ask: What would we earthlings do without the hope of Christmas morning? Daysprings appearing! No Christmas! Why, that would be like finding the stable star discarded, its light lost, bruised and fallen from its holding place, reckoned only as a lamp that failed, now deemed unwanted, unneeded, signet emblem of the Most High, no longer on mission. To such I say, how tragic that would be! Better by far to choose anchorage, secure and everlasting, within the bright afterglow of God.
___My choice was settled long ago.
___BO Baker, a longtime Texas Baptist pastor and evangelist, has written a Christmas reflection for the Baptist Standard for 25 years. He lives in McKinney.
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