Bible Studies

Part Two

The devil knows that it is only a matter of time before each child learns that there is no Santa Claus bringing them any reward for their good behavior, but the concept of being rewarded for their good behavior from other sources remains alive and well.

In the mind of a child, Heaven is for good people, and Hell is for the bad people. The devil, with the unintended assistance from the religious world, promotes this idea, leading all who follow that path to believe that all is well.

The devil does so knowing what the end result (Rev. 20: 15) will be, by trying to enter Heaven through the Matt. 15: 9 religious traditions of men , good behavior, and good deeds, if in the process, one’s name is not recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life as a result of being born-again.

In the meantime, their good behavior and good deeds contribute to making the devil’s world (Luke 4: 6) a better place to live, for as long as it lasts.

Satan is more than willing and able to compensate and reward anyone choosing to do his bidding or otherwise promote his agenda. Note that Jesus did not dispute the devil’s willingness or ability to make good on his Luke 4: 5. 6 offer, only that one should only worship and serve God.

There are many deceived individuals and groups out there who are promoting the devil’s agenda inside and outside of the Christian Community who don’t even know it!

Virtually everything that goes on “under the sun” either glorifies and promotes the plan of God or the plan of Satan, but only those with a Biblically-edified soul structure will develop the spiritual discernment to see the difference.

Imagine a world in which one would follow God’s example and wonder what they might GIVE to others rather than what they might GET for themselves during the Christmas season.

Consider how much better off the Christian Community would be if it raised a generation of children (and future parents) that looked forward to the coming (return) of Jesus at the Rapture with more enthusiasm than the coming of Santa Claus on Christmas Eve.

When the truth about Santa Claus is inevitably uncovered, it can be more disturbing for some children than for others. Some may even go as far as questioning the future credibility of their parents who led them to believe in Santa, and wonder what “other things” are there out there that parents will use to pressure children to embrace good conduct.

This may sound like an extreme reaction, but it impressed me as a child when a young friend of mine sincerely wondered if religion wasn’t just something else that parents made up to get the kids to behave.

Scripture (Luke 17: 2) has some serious words for anyone who would become a stumbling block for impressionable children.

Many parents closely monitor the type and amount of natural food they provide for their children’s bodies that are here today and gone tomorrow, but have a “good enough” attitude about the quantity and quality of food they take into their souls that are going to live on throughout all of the never-ending eternity future.

If not taught by parents, children will learn soon enough that (here in the devil’s world-Luke 4: 6) good guys don’t always finish first, and there are sacrifices to be made and suffering to endure, if one is to learn of and execute the ways and plans of God. Here on Earth, there will be a price to be paid for glorifying God by learning and doing things God’s way. Jesus taught His would-be followers to count the cost of discipleship (Luke 14: 28). Godly parents will do the same.

Many atheists , unbelievers, and non-Christians celebrate a secular type of “Christmas” by leaving Christ out of the picture and filling the season with much of the same activities (decorations, parties, family gatherings, exchanging of gifts, and playing along with the Santa Claus thing with their children) as do many of their “Christian” neighbors. Satan himself would feel right at home at such celebrations, so long as God and the things of GOD are left out of the picture.

Acknowledging the John 3: 5, 7 NEED and the John 14: 6 MEANS for one to receive their Christmas gift that God gave to the world at the First Advent, and then to play it forward by passing it on to others, is what the year-round spiritual life here on Earth, is all about.

End of Part Two