In 1946 (the year I was born) a movie was produced that would become a holiday favorite. The enduring popularity of It’s a Wonderful Life is not just its actors and script. The movie makes us ponder some of the great mysteries of being human. It asks such important questions as: How do we assess significance or find our purpose? Can one individual make a difference in the lives of other people? If this person had never been born, would the world be impoverished by his or her absence?  

If lasting significance can be assigned to ordinary people like George Bailey (the main character in the movie), how could we possibly assess the importance of Jesus Christ coming into the world? Without His incarnation, what would human history look like today? The Christmas season is the perfect time to consider His unique contribution and what a difference He made.

Can you imagine your life without Jesus? A life with no indwelling Holy Spirit, no power over sin and death, and no hope of future resurrection or heaven. No forgiveness for our cosmic rebellion, no relationship with God the Father, no rebirth, no fellowship with other believers, and no comfort when tragedy or discouragement comes. No reason to pray, no incentive to help others, no meaning for our lives (or the lives of our children). Nothing to look forward to beyond our short lifespan. Oh, what a difference Jesus made!

Besides the personal blessings of knowing Jesus, there are broader social implications for the world at large. Had He not come down from the comforts of heaven, there would be nothing to interrupt sin’s curse. Whole cultures would be doomed to a continual cycle of conflict, violence, war, theft, and exploitation. There would be nothing to combat corruption, greed, lust, jealousy, envy, hatred, dissensions, and selfish ambition. All we could hope to enjoy in our lives would be the temporary pleasures of the flesh, which are here today and gone tomorrow.

As Moses observed, “We finish our years with a moan. The length of our days is seventy years–or eighty if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.” (Psalm 90:9-10).

In another psalm David writes, “Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro: he bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it” (39:6).     

If I think hard enough, I can remember what life was like before I knew Jesus—I tried many different ways to find joy and peace but nothing I tried filled the void in my heart. I felt empty, unfulfilled, and dissatisfied. Although I wanted to be a better person, I sensed it was futile to even try. Like everyone who’s blinded by the devil, I couldn’t even imagine that a different kind of life was possible. Then Jesus entered my life! By surrendering to Him I found what I’d been longing for. My life was forever changed.

“When the set time had fully come, God sent his Son … that we might receive adoption to sonship.” (Galatians 4:4-5). “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11).

No wonder one of our favorite Christmas carols is called “Joy to the World.”

No one else has ever impacted human history like Jesus did. As William Barclay wrote, “Jesus is the yes to every promise of God.” In His coming, everything promised in the Old Testament was fulfilled. And when He comes again, in power and glory, He will rid the world of every trace of evil and restore righteousness to the earth. For those who know Him, the future is glorious! “When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:4).

In The Pursuit of God, A.W. Tozer quotes from a sermon by Frederick Faber, an English clergyman who passionately loved the Lord Jesus. We who have experienced firsthand the tremendous impact of Jesus’ life on ours can say “amen” to what he wrote.

“Wherever we turn in the church of God, there is Jesus. He is the beginning, middle and end of everything to us. There is nothing good, nothing holy, nothing beautiful, nothing joyous which He is not to His servants. We can exaggerate about many things; but we can never exaggerate our obligation to Jesus or the compassionate abundance of the love of Jesus to us. All our lives long we might talk of Jesus, and yet we should never come to an end of the sweet things that might be said of Him. Eternity will not be long enough to learn all that He is, or to praise Him for all He has done, but then, that matters not; for we shall be always with Him, and we desire nothing more.”

Jesus’ wonderful life made our lives wonderful too! So, throughout this holiday season let’s share the Good News about Him with everyone we meet, both by word and good deed. Like George Bailey, we have a part to play in making the world better. We find our significance when we choose to bless others.

By our changed lives Christians today ensure that God’s blessings continue to flow as “far as the curse is found.” Even though we are just ordinary people, who often mess up, we have a treasure within our jars of clay, as it says in 2 Corinthians 4:6-7. By sharing this treasure, we impact the world for good. Often what we do feels insignificant, but every cup of cold water and every welcoming embrace can make a difference in someone else’s life. It’s a wonderful life … when we know Him and we choose to give ourselves away in love, as He did.

My dear heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus. He has made all the difference! Help me to be grateful for the many gifts I enjoy because of Him, and to share my resurrected life with others, so they can experience His amazing love as well. Enable me to find in Jesus my deepest satisfaction and my highest purpose. By the power of your Spirit, transform my ordinary life into an offering of love that touches others and brings glory to you. For all you are, I worship and praise you. Amen.