In 1943, Bing Crosby released one of America’s most popular Christmas songs, I’ll Be Home for Christmas. It is ranked as the #10 most performed holiday song of the century. Over the years, countless musicians including Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, and Michael Bublé have covered this timeless hit. The song itself was written from the perspective of an overseas soldier during World War II. We listen through the lyrics of the simple request a soldier makes for when he comes home for Christmas. Originally, the song was not well received by the music business because the final line of “only in my dreams” was too sad for the holidays. It reminded listeners of the reality that people sadly die during times of war and many soldiers would not be making it home for the holiday. But the song was well received by both soldiers and civilians because it touched a tender and real place in all their hearts. 

Thankfully today we do not find ourselves in the middle of another World War but that does not mean that 77 years later, this song doesn’t still touch tender and real places in the hearts of those listening. 

This Christmas we still have active soldiers serving and sacrificing their lives for our country. This Christmas, the majority of the country has also been asked to remain home for Christmas due to a global pandemic. Christmas this year will not look or feel like it has in years past. Some of us do not have to worry about if ‘I’ll be home for Christmas’ because we have not been able to leave our homes like we usually do. Some will not be able to travel, like usual, to see the loved ones that make any place we are together, feel like home. Some have experienced the loss of family members or a close friend during this time and “home” just is not the same as it once was. The annual Christmas parties and large celebratory gatherings we look forward to having have all been cancelled or postponed. Christmas also might not be able to look like it has in the past because this season has impacted you or your family economically and financially. For many people this holiday season, the normal spirit, joy, excitement, anticipation, and longing is not as it once was because of all the different changes taken place this year in particular.  

Despite all of this, I would still argue that Christmas still holds life-changing anticipation.

This anticipation is different from the rest. It is not something we can only dream of maybe one day experiencing. This anticipation, because of Christmas, is the anticipation of something that is guaranteed to happen and for us to experience. 

Christmas, according to scripture, is not just a story about snow, mistletoe, or presents under a tree as Crosby describes it. John 1:14 describe Christmas as “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” The Word is Jesus and John 1:4 tells us, that in Jesus is life and that life was the light of all mankind. While Bing might have misunderstood the reason we long for the joy Christmas should bring, he does accurately describe the location in which we find the true meaning of Christmas, “Where the love light gleams.” 

John 3:16 tells us that “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son (Jesus – The Word – The light of all mankind), that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” The Gospel message begins on Christmas night when Jesus came down from heaven and moved into our neighborhood. Jesus made our home, his home to save us. In fact, when you put your faith in Jesus, the Bible promises that one-day you and I will be able to say with full confidence that “I’ll be home… because of Christmas.” Philippians 3:20 remind us, “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Jesus Christ, through his death and resurrection, made it possible for us to ‘come home’ and be with the Father. 

If I am honest, there is a longing in my heart to be home.

As much as I enjoy being here with family members and loved ones in front of a fire while exchanging gifts and drinking warm coffee in the comfort of my earthly home…I anticipate the day when Jesus Christ returns to restore, redeem, and reunite all that has been broken, exchanged, and lost. My soul waits for the promises of Revelation 21 that say Jesus will come again and dwell, be at home, with his people and there will be no more tears, death, mourning, crying, or pain for all these things have passed away. It is this future hope and promise that allows me to see past the struggles of yesterday and the pains of today we might be facing, especially during this season. I hope that all of you have a Merry Christmas. I pray that you come to know that, despite what ‘home’ will look like due to the circumstances you might be facing this Christmas, that one day, because of Jesus, you will be home! When I listen to, I’ll Be Home for Christmas these days, I am reminded that because of Jesus…this will one day be true.