Santa VS. the World? December 2011
I have never been a true Santa Claus fan and taught my sons the truth of GOD the Father blessing us with Christ, His Son. Of course, all three sons decided very early that Santa thing was worth hanging onto while happily explaining the legend to other adults. I did say that these were my sons. Anyway, this year the media seems unusually wrought with open attacks on Santa Claus! Have you noticed? Best Buy showed a woman squaring off with Santa on a snow- covered roof top and then she defiantly kicks a St Nick decoration off the roof, daring Santa to move. Another TV ad showed Santa’s elf sneaking him a pain medication and Forbes ran a story on December 14 questioning the potential for a “Santa Claus” stock market rally with a mug shot of a Santa figurine. UNICEF quoted Santa in their Christmas campaign: “I don’t do poor countries.” Obviously, materialism is failing and the legendary 4th century patron of Christmas is symbolic of all things we crave. A UK Metro news article headlined, “A 13-year-old girl has shocked her mother by asking Father Christmas for a list of presents and threatening to kill him if he doesn’t comply.”
Certainly, the year 2011, beset with the hungry, homeless and major financial let downs will not be soon forgotten. People are angrier and far less tolerant of others. I have even heard prominent Christian leaders teach hatred for President Obama and people from foreign countries- publicly encouraging un-GOD like hatred. Not to despair however, here is where our faith should spring forward. Christians have a fantastic opportunity to be who Christ calls us to be. We can remind others and ourselves that GOD is in control by demonstrating the power of our Almighty Father as we truly surrender to His will and do for others before we consider doing for ourselves. WE CAN BE WHO OUR CREATOR HAS DESIGNED US TO BE. Our gracious actions will be a shining testimony to a disgruntled, dissatisfied world – bringing Light into the darkness, fresh and anew. Alas, it may be so long Santa, as holiday decorations are stored away; but please, let 2012 be a year of Hello Christ Jesus as you unpack your faith and serve it up like never before.
“Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inas
much as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’” Matthew 25:34-40
