We all have heard the pagan carol “Santa Claus is coming to Town.” You know:
“You’d better watch out, you’d better not cry, you’d better not pout, I’m telling you why,
‘Santa Claus is coming to town.’
He’s making a list, checking it twice, gonna find out whose naughty or nice,
‘Santa Claus is coming to town.’
He sees you when your sleeping; he knows when you’re awake; he knows if you’ve been bad or good; so, be good! for goodness sake.”
If you are like me living in mainstream America, you no doubt have heard this song if not even sang it yourself. Around the Christmas season it is almost impossible to miss. Society has even adopted a common cliché from this song which it has used year round in different venues – “naughty or nice.” Very succinctly, this phrase sums up for many, even Christians, the mindset in which they anticipate the Christmas season. We all have heard it said to children, “You’d better be good, Santa might not bring you anything.” And even if we have not said it ourselves, we have to admit that our minds are naturally inclined to think this way. We feel a sense of duty to do good in hope of gaining some reward of some kind, even if it is simply the soothing of our own conscience. Is this truly the spirit of the Christmas season?
I heard this song this Christmas and the question came to my mind, “Santa comes to give gifts to the nice, but is that why Jesus came?” After all, Jesus is “the reason for the season.” I have to admit that I was thrilled to realize that He did not. Actually, Jesus made it adamantly clear that He did not come for those who are good. (Luke 5:32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” ESV) In other words, Jesus did not come to bring a gift to the nice, but to the naughty. And He does not bring gifts (plural); he brings one gift, because we only need one gift, Himself – Jesus. And in Jesus we have all the riches of God given to us – love, hope, eternal life, etc.
So, what does this mean to us today on Christmas? Well, mostly, it gives hope to the naughty. You may not get anything from Santa Claus, but you are eligible for Jesus’ gift of Himself. You are the only ones eligible as well. Jesus is the friend of sinners. He despises the good because they desire to steal glory for themselves. So then, who are the naughty? If you already know that you are then you don’t need to read this explanation (but keep reading anyway). If you are good or nice, it doesn’t take much to see that you are naughty;but you can’t do it on your own. God has to reveal to you that you are naughty. And if you are truly interested in knowing, read Luke 7:36-50 for starters.
To the naughty, Rejoice!!. Just as the angels announced to the Shepherds in the fields of Bethlehem, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:10-11) The Good News for us is that Jesus took the punishment for our naughtiness against God so that we could have life in Jesus. We just have to believe it. Jesus’ punishment took our place on a cross.
In response to God because of His magnificent gift to us, we should desire and work to give Him a life to Him that reflects His holiness. Not because it will achieve any reward from God; Jesus has already done that. We live a life consumed by a love for Him out of our thankfulness and worship, not from duty or obligation.
So again, Rejoice!! And, most importantly, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.” (Luke 2:14) God gets the glory!!One last thing, I would like anyone who reads this to have one of the greatest privileges that I have had this Christmas. I was able to visit Morning Star Baptist Church in Rockford, IL; and this is the message that I heard by Bob Bixby. It was fantastic! If you get the chance, listen to it.
Merry Christmas!!!
this is “grace at work”
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