Monday, December 10, 2012

Yesterday I Met Santa Claus

"But these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name" (John 20:31)

Yesterday I met Santa Claus, beloved.  It's true!  I was walking down the hallway at church prior to the very special and inspiring morning worship service.  I ducked into one of the classrooms and there he sat chilling out: Santa Claus!  Or rather one of our fine young men dressed up in an enormous, pillow-stuffed Santa suit complete with snow-white wig and snowy beard with rimless glasses.  That he took me by surprise is an understatement!

You see, yesterday morning we were all privileged to be led in worship by our young people as they presented their annual Christmas play, this one appropriately entitled: "That's What Christmas Is All About" and written by one of our fine young college-and-career men.  Fantastic!  As the play pointed out so well to all of those present, including the visiting parents and family members and friends who joined our regular members, we often miss the message concerning what Christmas is really all about.  How unique that Santa should be present in our service of worship, not only to share in it but to try to explain that he is not the focal point of Christmas.  By the way, one look at our Santa doing his best to stay in his enormous pillow-packed trousers as he made his way down the aisle and your day would have been made just by the sight.

At the end of this precious dramatic presentation I had the distinct privilege of stepping "on stage" to interact with the characters and to share with them and all others in attendance what God says that Christmas is really all about.  I chose to focus upon the name "Immanuel" or God with us.  That God would choose to come to us, beloved, and out of His limitless love and grace to die for us so that as we put our trust in Jesus Christ we will have Him with us is truly what Christmas is all about.  Lose that truth and you lose Christmas, at least in any way that really matters.

So yesterday I met Santa Claus...at church!  And the memory of that moment and of that entire gospel presentation will always be special to me.  But far more important for me, and for each of you as well, is that one day long ago I met the babe of Bethlehem who became instantly my Savior and Lord.  That meeting transformed my life just as it can transform yours if for whatever reason you do not yet know Him personally.  Anyone can meet Santa, beloved.  I am living proof of that.  But to meet the Christ of Christmas, now that is what life is all about!  Want to meet Him?  I'd love to introduce Him to you.

Ron