I am one of the most Christmassy people you will ever meet. I love everything about the holidays, from the sacred to the hokey:
- I start Christmas music when the NBA season opens.
- I go to every Christmas party I am invited to – and to some I am not!
- I am a verified over-gifter and sin against my Dave Ramsey roots as an annual indulgence.
So, with all that being true, I have a surprisingly “Ba humbug!” thing to bring to the table.
I have a problem with your nativity.
No, I am not talking about the anachronistic presence of three wise men who wouldn’t have been there that night.
They probably didn’t show up until Jesus was well past infancy and maybe even into the toddler stage.
It’s OK to have them as part of your nativity … just put them in another room … east of your nativity … right next to the little drummer boy.
So, my problem isn’t with the wise guys. In fact, the problem isn’t with something in your nativity. It’s with something not in your nativity.
Here is what you need to add. Just next to the cattle lowing where the baby awakes, and on the other side of the shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night, I need you to slide in another little creature.
A dragon.
Nope, I’m not kidding. A dragon needs space in your nativity and here is where I get the biblical support for that:
“And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it.” (Rev. 12:3-4)
Right there, at the birth of Jesus, was a satanic presence ready to thwart God’s plan by killing the Savior while he was still a baby. In Revelation, the spiritual metaphor is thick, but in the Gospels we see the efforts of the dragon through King Herod – who tried to kill the boy Jesus by killing all the children in a region.
But God warned Joseph and Mary through the wise men (See, they are still in the Christmas story … just keep them in that other room so they can “travel afar”!) and the family fled to Egypt and stayed there until things were safe to return.
Let’s be clear: The devil was there at the birth of Jesus. He had plans to destroy our Savior.
But God is never surprised, outwitted or overpowered. The devil who wanted to devour the Christ child went to bed hungry!
Our God is great. Our God is strong. Our God is able. Our God is always ahead of the enemy!
Today, in your own life, there is a very real danger that the dragon is still seeking your destruction as part of God’s people. But whether he is a dragon in the nativity or a prowling lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet. 5:8), our God is able to guide, strengthen and protect.
I do not know what you are up against today. It might feel like that dragon is breathing fire down your neck – but do not be afraid:
“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11)
Merry Christmas! It’s a little early, but it’s never too soon to remember your dragon protection!
Published December 1, 2023
