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Friday, December 16, 2005

Is Santa Claus Real?

For some time, there was a movie I had looked forward to watching and so I was recently able to view it. The movie is called The Polar Express. After seeing it, I now think differently about one thing: Santa Claus is real. In fact, I believe in Santa Claus and so should you, here's why.

Christmas time and the days around Christmas is a time we spend giving and getting gifts along with showering one another with kisses, hugs and love. It's all generally a wonderful time, yet this is not what Christmas is truly about. Actually, it should be a time we remember Christ and what He has done for us. In truth, our emphasis should only be on Jesus Christ at all times and days of the year (all 365 of em) and reflecting on whom He is. Unfortunately, this isn't something commonly done today even among so-called followers of Christ.

I'll be the first to confess I don't take the time I should, to remember and thank God for His gift to me for dying in my place, as a sinner, and thanking Him for the many blessings He gives which exist in my life. Why do I forget or neglect to do this? Do you?

One reason is because there is a war going on. I don't mean the war in the Middle East or between Democrats and Republicans or between the terrorists and what is right, good and just, (although these wars are symptoms of what I speak of). The one I'm referring to is a war not fought with flesh and blood but is spiritual in nature and the devil is at war with the One who created you and I and all that is around us. His name is Jesus. The devil hates God, righteousness and ultimately he despises it when one repents of sin and puts his/her trust in the only One who can save them from hell and eternal damnation (meant for the devil and his angels). He doesn't want us to trust in Jesus Christ and make Christ the Lord of our lives.

Satan seeks to make truth obscured. I've heard it said and you may have too, that a counterfeit 20 dollar bill isn't a counterfeit unless it looks authentic enough to be real. The closer the devil gets to the truth, without actually becoming or showing the whole truth, the more difficult his scheme is to detect and the more apt we are to falling into his trap. The Bible points to the sacrifice of what God has done for us in sending Christ Jesus to die for us. Satan knows clearly who God truly is. His battle is with God and so naturally he will want to make it difficult for us, as God's creation, to see who God truly is, what he has to say to us and what His plan is for us through Christ. Satan hopes to mask God's truth. What better way to attempt to mask who Christ is as Prince of Peace and the Savior of the world than through pagan ritual, false religion and so much other stuff? How about adding things we as humans must do in order to get something back? And in order to get salvation or to earn a place in heaven? One problem is that salvation is a gift so it can't be earned. He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit. (Titus 3:5 nlt) Any other belief system on the earth will teach us we can do something "good" to earn something else. Maybe this is why "naughty or nice" makes so much sense everybody! However, God says we are enemies of Him from our birth through our wickedness. This means it's our natural tendency to do wrong and anger God. We can do nothing to earn salvation. It's only through the sacrifice God alone could make and did make for us on the cross. He has given his life (in Jesus Christ the only sinless man) for us so that we might have life.

Lets look at a perfect diversion to seeking Christ. Satan is in a battle so why not "compete" with Jesus and call this diversion Santa Claus and make him "jolly" and a "gift giver" and one who knows "whether you've been good or bad". Seems reasonable and harmless enough for sure? I say he is not harmless because we don't seek out who Jesus Christ is as we should and it gives us a chance to be sidetracked from God. Santa is an excellent opportunity to divert our attention away from our Maker and worst of all, teach our kids a lie. Why not be truthful with our kids? How can a lie be harmless? It sure seems harmless when he's wrapped up in a red and white suit and he's even got gifts, doesn't it? So many gifts!! For us! And who doesn't love toys. Amazing. Satan knows lies. Satan knows what we like too. The Bible says he's the father of lies so we shouldn't be surprised if we read God's word.

Back to The Polar Express. There are many fantastic graphical sequences and animations proving a fair amount of money was given to this feature film. I was actually mesmerized by the elaborate production. And all for what? Surely not to propagate a lie to kids?
Essentially what we learn from Santa Claus and other commercialization’s of Christmas is that lying is fine....but only if it packaged to "look" ok to others and has many benefits to you or I. Colorful presents can't hurt either. However, a lie is a lie is a lie is a lie and God sees lying as breaking His commands as seen in the Ten Commandments. Have you ever lied? Listen to your conscience. God hates lying and sin in general. Who hasn't lied (sinned)? Through this batte, we see Satan is fighting God here and pulling in as many who will follow his evil ways rather than to seek out truth. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father except through Him. There is only one truth of who Christ is and what He has done for us on the cross. When we didn't deserve life, God came to earth to die for our sins of (lying, stealing, looking with lust, etc. ). He did it through Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for sin, a penalty we could never be able to pay. He rose again on the third day defeating death and sin. There is only one reason for the season. His name is Jesus.

The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After His mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. So Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly. But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins." Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: See, the virgin will be with child and give birth to a son, and they will name Him Immanuel, which is translated "God is with us." When Joseph woke up from his sleep, he did as the Lord's angel had commanded him. He took his wife home, but he did not know her intimately until she gave birth to a son. And he named Him Jesus. Matthew 1: 18-25

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

from Danny,
this should be a video.

TimsBlogs II said...

Yes...I happen to have a pretty nice camera...