And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. — Luke 2:7
There is something about history that is just fascinating to me. I love to read about the stories of days gone by and there’s always one thing that gets my attention, days that changed the world. Many of us can certainly remember September 11, 2001. It’s hard to believe that those graduating high school now have never experienced a world without 9/11 in it. They never knew what this world was like before 9/11 and the profound impact of terrorism on our world.
Another day I often think of that is a little more distant is December 7, 1941. The attack at Pearl Harbor changed the course of history as the United States was attacked by Japan. The event changed the course of World War II and changed our nation. Abroad we lost many lives and at home, we saw a rise of faith once again. But those memories are very distant for many people as those who lived through it leave this world.
July 4, 1776 is another big day in the past few hundred years. That is the day dedicated to the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in our nation. Brave men risked everything they had for an idea of freedom. The concept of freedom was difficult for many to comprehend, but these men knew it could exist and were ready to risk their lives to obtain it. Through the rise of the United States, the world has forever been changed.
All of these events are relatable for us because they directly affect our lives in some fashion and they are only a few of the big days that have changed the world. What happens as time passes is that we lose the passion behind those days and the memory of what they stand for starts to fade. It’s a sad situation that seems to be getting worse as our lives become busier each year.
But Christmas Day is a celebration of the birth of our Savior. It’s also a day that we should all be able to say directly affects our lives. We should have a personal tie to that day and a special place for it in our hearts. While there have been numerous days that have changed the world, no other day has had the lasting change which that specific day brought to the world.
From the beginning of time, the world needed a permanent solution for sin and that could only be found in Jesus Christ. But it seems that every year we move a little further away from the passion behind the day.
It’s a day that is not about the gifts or a baby in a manger, but a Savior who came to a wicked world to provide redemption full and free. It’s about the only man to ever live, who not only changed the world but can change eternity for anyone who accepts Him as Savior. It was more than just a day that changed the world. It was a day that set in motion events that changed eternity.