My Christmas Story

Every year, Christians and non-Christians celebrate Christmas. Different people have different reasons why they celebrate Christmas. Some just for the turkey, ham, roast beef, Christmas log cake, some just for the presents, some just for the lights, Santa Claus, Christmas trees and the whole spirit of giving...Why do you celebrate Christmas?

Most people are all familiar with the nativity scene where there is Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus in the manger where he was born. But few recognise the significance of this event and the consequences that resulted from this.

Recently, I was reading a book passed to me by my brother. Its entitled, "Ironman". It is about the life of gangster, Neville Tan who had his brush with the law since 14 years old and by 17 years old, he was already one of the top young gang leaders. He has been in and out prison many times with caning but nothing seems to change him.

Interestingly, a guy from a cell nearby had managed to smuggle seven pages torn from a book he had for Neville to read. He then found out that the pages had been torn out from a Gideons New Testament. In anger he crumpled the pages and flung them away towards the toilet bowl in his cell.

Frustrated and bored he began to pace the cell until he was tired. He sat on the concrete bed in his cell and after a while his eyes wandered to the crumpled pages on the floor. Finally he picked them up and began to read. He thought the whole thing was a joke when he read how a virgin could give birth to Jesus.

However, his life took a dramatic turn when he finally received the Lord in the solitary confinement of his cell.

We are all brought up to believe that "seeing is believing" but if that is the case, we do not need faith. So at times, we have to believe first before we can see.

For Neville and indeed for many of us, it is after he took that step of faith that he understood who the baby in the manger really was. And because of that child, instead of living a wasted life, he lived life to the fullest.

We all know that our future is uncertain. Who knows what will happen tomorrow or in the days to come? I know of many who has struggles in their lives, and face difficult circumstances in their marriages and I can only simply tell you that only Jesus can make the real difference in your life as He did to mine, to Neville Tan who is now a founding pastor of the Church of God (Evangelical) and to many others.

This is why we celebrate Christmas for He is here to save us. Have a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year