Christmas in New York City

I had the opportunity to visit New York City with my family this Christmas.  I have always heard that it was a great place to visit to see the sights and sounds of Christmas during the holidays.  I must say we had a great time trying to see as much as possible.  We started at the Statue of Liberty, went to Ground Zero to see the memorial and the new Freedom Tower, and eventually made our way to Times Square.  Walking through Central Park was amazing.  Trump Tower was cool.  Times Square was crowded, but the lights around the area were terrific!

What intrigued me, though, was going to Macy’s.  It was seven floors of expensive shopping, or should I say, looking!  In that building they had amazing wooden escalators that date way back. But it was the sign on the front of the building that really caught my attention.  The sign said, “Believe.”  It was written and lit in such as way as to be magical and whimsical.  I think the obvious implication of it was the magic of the North Pole, and of Santa and of gifting for Christmas.  In the movie, The Miracle on 34th Street, a mom who worked for Macy’s, along with her little girl, were challenged to believe–not in Jesus Christ, but in Santa.  I suppose that is the way the world is going these days when it comes to Christmas. Sadly, most people in this world are missing the greatest message that the sign really points to!  It is the true message of Christmas!  Here are some of the verses that come to mind which the Bible encourages us to “believe,”  or to have faith in.

…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved…

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me….I am the way, the truth, and the life:  no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

It is my hope that more and more people would come to know that Jesus is truly the reason for the season and that putting your faith in Him is life changing and awesome.  I got to see first hand what the hustle and bustle of Christmas has become. Shopping and fantasy has replaced the most important thing of all.  Jesus, born of a virgin,  came to this earth and lived a sinless life.  He was crucified on the cross of Calvary to pay for our sins, the just for the unjust.  He was buried in a tomb, but three days later arose victorious over death.  He sits at the right hand of God the Father now, offering the gift of salvation, forgiveness of sins, to all that BELIEVE!

Now that is what Christmas is all about!