Christmas has a dark side. The advent of the Savior isn't "peace on earth" for everyone.

While the baby in the manger is a joy to the world for those He came to save, His presence

also guarantees destruction (1 Jn. 3:8), judgment (Jn. 5:22), and much sorrow (Matt. 2:16-18;

Lk. 2:35). The reason is threefold:

First, prophecy must be fulfilled. The head of the serpent must be bruised (Gen. 3:15).

Every son born to Adam must be shown to fail as a seed that can conquer Satan. The strong

man must have his house robbed and plundered, his works destroyed, his captives freed -- or

God fails in what He said He would do. But also, all shadows and types under the old covenant

find their end and reality at Christmas. Christ is God’s final revelation.

Second, light must expose darkness for the evil that it is (Jn. 3:19). "For this I have been

born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth" (Jn. 18:37). The demarcation

lines are much clearer since Christmas. You have your deeds exposed and verified as

being from God or from the devil -- because of your relationship with Christ (Jn. 3:19-21). You

hide out of fear and loathing, or come clean, out of desire and love -- no middle ground. The

babe in Mary's arms is destined to reveal the heart of every man (Lk. 2:35).

Lastly, sorrow and death must give way to life. Life is the ultimate gold standard. Good

and evil, God and the devil, heaven and hell -- life is the final possession. A being that doesn't

or can’t possess life isn't much of an entity. Those who inherit it, only have one type -- the life of

the Son of God. Christmas is the beginning of the end for the last enemy, death.

A baby was born, and earth and heaven were never the same. The great divide started on a