My writing is late today for several reasons, but the main one is I couldn’t pull any thoughts together. Then tonight while watching Tim Allen in Santa Clause 3, it occurred to me – do we treat God like Santa?
I ask because in the beginning there is a scene with Tim Allen -as Santa, and he says “What does Santa do? He delivers!” What does Santa deliver? Gifts, toys, and our wants – down to our last whimsical wish. This is the season for Christmas movies, and I love all of them! They are upbeat, always end good, and everyone ends up happy. They are a great escape for a couple of hours because real life doesn’t always work that way.
As we get older do we still ask Santa for things, and deep down hope he delivers? Last night’s movie was Elf with Will Farrell, I laugh every time I see it. Towards the end, Michael Hobbs, played by Daniel Tay grabs Santa’s big book. In it all the names are written and what each person asked for, Michael Hobbs is trying to improve the Christmas Spirit when he takes it to a reporter and proceeds to tell her what she asked Santa for, after sharing what several children had asked for. She asked for an engagement ring, and for her boyfriend to stop dragging his feet. Deep down there’s still a kid in all of us, or we wouldn’t take our requests to Santa. There’s the inner child that loves to hear the Ho-Ho-Ho, and get the candy cane from the white glove! We put on our best clothes to go see the man in the red suit, and prepare months in advance what we will ask for. We can recite our items in seconds, and may even take time to write it down. Just in case Santa forgets.
Parents, and grandparents, listen intently to each child’s request in an effort to obtain the item requested of Santa. We don’t want to make Santa look bad, after all we don’t always get what we ask for from God. Because of that do we attempt to make Santa real? Could it be because we can touch, feel, and see Santa we gravitate towards the belief? His kindness and infectious laugh that makes his belly jiggle like a bowl full of jelly, the help he gets with the elves, and Rudolph’s red nose! Have we made Santa bigger than God?
About 10 feet away stands a three foot Santa, next to the nativity scene. Santa is taller, and figuratively bigger, but the power to behold is the comparison to the three inch baby in the manger.
“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isa. 9:6 NLT
My Santa has packages in his bag, and hanging from his arm. The baby lies in a blue blanket holding nothing.
“She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger.” Lk. 2:7 NLT
I love Christmas, Santa, snowmen, sleighs, and songs but they don’t compare to the reality of Jesus in my life. The gifts Santa brings are tangible, and eventually will break, get donated, thrown away, retuned, or put up never to be seen again. The gift baby Jesus has is intangible. It is the gift of eternal life.
“The Savior – yes, the Messiah, the Lord – has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!” Lk. 2:11 NLT
His gift cannot be taken away, discarded, put up, or given to another. His gift is for you, me, and all who believe. In Jesus, not Santa.
“If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. The LORD helps and delivers them; He will deliver them from the wicked and will save them because they take refuge in Him” (Ro. 10:9 & Ps. 37:40 HCSB)
HE is: The True Deliverer! Who do you seek gifts from?
©Gentle Whisper Ministries 2016 re-post from 2014
*picture from savingsmania, fanpop
