Whatever joy the world experiences during the Christmas season is shallow and temporal, based more in fable than reality. For those who truly know Christ, the true joy of His coming should bring joy throughout our lives for Christ’s coming has reconciled to God. While the world celebrates Christmas, the church observes Advent which not only considers Christ’s birth, but His identity as Immanuel (God with us), His mission (which is to save us from our sins) and His promised return when He will complete the good work He has begun in us.