December 22nd - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

“He’s making a list and checking it twice, he’s gonna find out who’s naughty or nice...you better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, I’m telling you why, Santa Claus is comin’ to town.” (John Haven Coots and Haven Gillespie)

I love the songs and the whole story of Santa Claus, and I love watching kids relate to him and write letters assuring him they have been good. I have no problem with that fairy tale and did my best to keep my Grandkids from finding out who he really is, or isn’t, for as long as possible.

However, sometimes I wonder if our ideas about God come more from fairy tales than the Bible. If you’re good you will be blessed and go to heaven, but if you’re bad…look out because Jesus is coming back to town. At least with good old Saint Nick, bad children only get a lump of coal and a Ho Ho Ho, while the children of the angry God of old Saint Religion get eternal torment in the fires of hell - Ho Ho Horrible!

God's children all sin except for His first born Son Jesus. He chastens His children in this life ending in death, and will correct all flaws in the next. His gracious gift to them after death will be salvation and immortal perfection followed by the unmerited “free gift of eternal life”…

"…He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men..." (Luke 6:35)

"...your Father is merciful..." (Luke 6:36)

"...for God has locked up ALL in disobedience so that He may show mercy to ALL..." (Romans 11:32)

"...for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God…the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 3:23; 6:23)

"...who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.” (Philippians 3:21)

The Son of the real Santa is coming to town soon!

"...who will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."(Isaiah 9:6)

So, enjoy the fun of Santa Claus with the kids, but take some time to tell them about the real Santa, the God Who revealed Himself in the baby Jesus, the Son of God who grew up to become the Savior of the world. 

"Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20-21)

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29)