Repent To Enjoy a Real Christmas

It sounds kinda weird to tell you that true repentance will bring you Real Christmas Joy.  I don’t usually associate joy with being sorry.  I know what brings me real joy and satisfaction.  When I went to Best Buy and researched a new laptop.  The salesperson steps over and says, “This is a perfect laptop for you.  Take it home and you’ll be happy!”  Or you tell a friend that you are going to end a stressful relationship and your friend says, “Hey, I’m sure this has been tough on you and it isn’t what you wanted, but down the road I know you’ll be happy! Or you put down the menu on the table at Bob’s Steak and Chop house after selecting your entrée and the server says, “Fine choice.  It’s one of my favorites.  I know you’ll be happy!”  These things make me happy, not sorry.

Advent is a season of repentance.  When we have wronged someone, or sinned against God we will have trouble being happy with ourselves. You can look into the mirror and tell yourself, “I’m good enough.  I’m smart enough.  And people LIKE me!” But, how does God see you?  You know God made you, saved you and wants to work through you.  So, what real joy and satisfaction does God get when he looks at you?  I know how I get satisfying joy!  When I get the Wednesday and Sunday sermons and bulletins finished.  When I get the Christmas decorations up and they look awesome.  When I set a personal goal in my life and reach it.  So how does it work that I can Enjoy a Real Christmas that is Rooted in Repentance?  Today St. Paul’s inspired words will convince you to

Repent To Enjoy a Real Christmas

In the Joy of Making Headway

We love to grow.  We love to improve.  We love to make advancements.  Just watch that 5-year-old back up to the measuring stick on the wall and mark how tall he is and you’ll hear it!  “I’m 4 feet tall!”  Listen to someone in their 40s who has been working out at the gym button their pants and you’ll hear it!  “I have room to spare!”  Listen to a college student turn in another class project and you’ll hear it!  “I’m one step closer to graduation!”  Growth, improvement and advancement makes us happy because we are one step closer to where we want to be.  St. Paul says it in his letter this way,

“⁹ And I pray that your love may still increase more and more in knowledge and every insight. ¹⁰ This will result in your approval of the things that really matter,”  

This is joy in their making Headway.  You set goals for your family or for work and you want to be successful.  I think you would agree that people who grow and improve strive to advance themselves.  When they look back at their past successes there is Joy of Making Headway.  This joy doesn’t last long because they are already making plans and strategizing to reach their next goal.

God has designed his people to be active and engaged.  We do rejoice over seeing our accomplishments, our good ol’ days, our stepping stones to success.  Our boys built a tree house for our grandkids.  But parents who say, “We built a tree house. Ah, we did it!  There’s nothing left to do” are done.  Also a Christian who says, “I’m happy with myself.  There’s nothing left to do” is also done.   The Christian with an indifferent spiritual attitude that is lazily drifting down the river of life and falls asleep to the swirling water will suddenly awaken to the crashing sound of a waterfall at the end of life into eternal punishment.  Jesus judges such people as he spoke to a church in Revelation,

“¹⁵ I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. If only you were cold or hot! ¹⁶ So, because you are lukewarm and not hot or cold, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. ¹⁷ You say, “I am rich. I have become very wealthy and need nothing.” But you do not know that you are miserable, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked… ¹⁹ I rebuke and discipline those whom I love. So take this seriously and repent”

Revelation 3:15-19

Let us heed the warning!  If you are content with your current level of Bible knowledge, content with only trying once to overcome your sinful weakness, content with a prayer life that only speaks to God when you really need help, content to Join Jesus on His Mission to share the gospel with others only when it’s convenient, then you may be sort of happy, but God isn’t.  John the Baptist spoke clearly,

“⁸ Therefore produce fruits in keeping with repentance! Do not even think of saying to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ because I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones. ⁹ Even now the ax is ready to strike the root of the trees. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is going to be cut down and thrown into the fire”

Luke 3  

It is God’s will that We Make Headway in our Christian life for the kingdom of God is near!

However, having the kingdom of God near isn’t scary for repentant sinners. How come?  Because we want the kingdom of God close to us, yes, even in us! Listen to what Paul said to repentant sinners,

“¹¹ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” 

God planted the seeds of his holiness into your soul when you were washed with the waters of baptism for the forgiveness of all your sins. Those seeds sprout and grow.   Those who are filled with the righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ Rejoice that they are Making Headway in their Christian Life.  They are sorry for their sins, trust in Jesus’ forgiveness and look to serve the Lord from thankful hearts.

When we are standing on this side of the mountain of repentance it looks difficult, but when we are on the other side of the mountain of repentance there is great joy.  Paul said,

“⁹ And I pray that your love may still increase more and more in knowledge and every insight. ¹⁰ This will result in your approval of the things that really matter, so that you will be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.”

You are living on the other side of this mountain with Jesus Christ at the top.  When our knowledge and insight into Jesus’ love for us increases, then we are able to approve and discern the things that really matter.  A musician discerns and approves what is the best note to play or sing.  A builder discerns and approves what measurement will complete the job.  A Christian uses his Biblical knowledge to discern and approve what is God-pleasing and what is not.  With such a repentant and trusting attitude we can Enjoy A Real Christmas In the Joy of Making Headway and  

In the Joy of Completion

You know the things that bring you great joy.  When an athlete gets injured and has to undergo surgery and then works to rehabilitate his talents, there is great joy when he throws a touchdown pass!  If you are trying to learn a new skill you know the joy when you finally understand and can execute the job well.  What about our hope of eternal life in heaven?  It does seem that we are running the race of life that can be difficult or even impossible to finish.  St. Paul said,

“³ I thank my God every time I remember you. ⁴ Every time I pray for all of you, I always pray with joy, ⁵ because of your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now. ⁶ I am convinced of this very thing: that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” 

There is the solution.  Rely on Jesus Christ and you will see the Joy of Completion.  This is different from the joy of Making Headway that says, “I’m getting there,” because the Joy of Completion says, “I’m done!”  So, when will this Joy of Completion be yours?  It’s not when the president you voted for takes office.  It’s not when the Cowboys win the Super Bowl, or when you defeat cancer.  The Joy of Completion is yours now through faith in Jesus Christ.  Jesus started the work in you and he will continue to keep you as his very own until he returns in Judgment.   This day is not scary for repentant sinners.  Your soul is in the hands of your God and Savior.  It’s done.  Jesus did it all for you.  Come before the Lord with repentant hearts in the Joy of Completion.

Paul had this confident joy and it made a world of difference to him as he struggled through the difficulties of this life.  He wrote,

“⁶ I am convinced of this very thing: that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. ⁷ I am equally convinced that it is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, for both in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all share in this grace with me.” 

Paul wrote this from a jail cell in Rome, but he knew this wasn’t the end for him.  His end was in the hands of his Savior, Jesus.  That made him happy.  It was the Joy of Knowing His Salvation Was Complete in Christ.

You can enjoy a Real Christmas Rooted in Repentance;

Like Mike.  He thought he was making headway in school, landing a great job.  He thought he had finally become his own man.  But, he lost touch with the moral standards that his parents taught him.  He pursued happiness through his career during the week and partied on weekends.  Then he met a Christian girl who was Joining Jesus on his mission and shared her true joy in Jesus.  Mike repented, reclaimed his faith and began making decisions based on what he knew pleased God.  With this repentant attitude he enjoyed a real Christmas. 

Or like Mary who was lonely and looking for prince charming.  She struggled to put her Christians values into practice when she was with him and his non-Christian friends.  For a while she said, “No!” but that became too difficult so she gave in and moved in with the guy but felt so guilty she even quit coming to church.  Over time her prayers changed from asking God to make everything pretty and nice, for prayers asking God to help her grow in discernment from his Word and grow in her faith.  Mary repented, reclaimed her faith and began making decisions based on what she knew pleased God.  With this repentant attitude she dumped the guy and enjoyed a real Christmas. 

Or like Kevin and Kate who has four kids who grew up so fast.  As empty nesters they began to lose their purpose for being together.  Kevin’s commitment of time to work took the place of the time he used to enjoy being together with Kate.  They lost their joy of being together, but ending their marriage just didn’t seem right.  They decided to seek counseling.  Through professional counseling from Family Life Solutions and Biblical guidance they repented, reclaimed their faith and began making decisions that they knew pleased God. With this repentant attitude they reclaimed the blessings of their marriage and enjoyed a real Christmas.

So, have you put two and two together?  It sounded kinda weird to tell you in the introduction that true repentance will bring you Real Christmas Joy.  But, now you get it.  We are not sinners because we sin.  We sin because we are sinners…..forgiven sinners in the blood of Jesus Christ.  Like these examples of people you are God’s project, redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ.  So, Repent in the Joy of Making Headway and in the Joy of Completion by Jesus Christ and will also enjoy a Real Christmas.  Amen.