“As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.”
Seventh-day Adventists don’t celebrate Christmas as a denomination. They leave it up to each member’s personal convictions to decide how they want to celebrate or ignore it. They are mostly known for their stance, which emphasizes living out the reality of Christmas and the resurrection every day. I have to admit, there is something attractive in that thinking. Yesterday was the traditional celebration of Christmas, except for the Eastern Orthodox Church. Today marks the day that many of us begin the transition from the buildup to Christmas Day to the gradual move toward the New Year. We may even start to consider a couple of life-improving resolutions. Ultimately, most of the world settles back into who we were a few weeks ago and waits until it all begins again in about 300 days, more or less. That is a trap. I came to Christ when I was 15 at a youth conference in Gatlinburg, TN. It was amazing. Over the next few weeks, with no instruction or follow-up, I drifted back to my previous life, maybe a bit more conscious of the eternal decision I made, but also feeling guilty for not living a particularly changed life. The next Christmas, at the same conference, I reconnected with my Savior. Then I went home, and with no follow-up help, I drifted back again. This process repeated itself for a few years until college, when a group of friends, including the girl I would one day marry, invited me to a ministry where I discovered that you could read the Bible on your own every day and learn about the Christian life. I understand you may think that should have been a given, but for a kid not raised in the church, I had no idea. I met Jesus on the mountaintop and then returned to my foolish life. Today, my strive to live the truth of Christmas every moment of every day. #BeTheEdge
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18 NIV
