Bible Studies

 

What If Santa Had Never Come?

Part Three

Children will see soon enough that one may get a lot more, a lot easier, and a lot sooner, by shaking hands with the devil, and doing things his way. But, at what cost?

There is nothing wrong with pursuing and then enjoying legitimately secured earthly prosperity, but children need to be taught the consequences of gaining or to being given the whole world, if one has to compromise his relationship or walk with God, in order to achieve it (Mark 8: 36).

If not taught these principles, the prosperity of the wicked (Psalms 73) can be a major hurdle to overcome along the road to spiritual maturity,

The devil and or his Eph. 6: 12 forces of evil will be right there to point out all that those who do things his way have to enjoy. The Bible (Heb. 11: 25) concedes that there is a season of pleasure in some sin. This is Satan’s baited hook, waiting for would be followers of Christ to nibble on, and hopefully swallow hook, line, and sinker, so that he can easily reel them in.

The best things (godly wisdom) that a parent can give their children will cost them (the parent) no money, but failure to give them godly guidance will cost them (the children) very much, if NOT in this lifetime, certainly in the life to come.

It didn’t seem so important at the time, but one of the best Christmas gifts that I would ever receive, was my first Bible that my Great Aunt Helen Watson had given me more than sixty-five years ago.

At that time, the KJV version of the Bible was the “go to” tangible source for spiritual edification of my familial heritage. As time passed, and I later advanced in Biblical discipleship, other versions, study Bibles, revisions, and translations of Scripture became a part of my “go to” library, as well.

As I studied for my ordination to enhance my gift and writing ministry, it was an eye-opener for me to learn that NONE of the Bibles in the English or Latin languages represented Scripture in its “inspired” (Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic) form, and were, at best, only translations of the original transcripts that became what we now know as “The Bible.”

Through Biblical discipleship, one will see that some Bibles in the English language have been better translated than others, and one will see the critical need to study Scripture in light of the original languages that the human authors were inspired to use.

As one spiritually matures, his or her Bible will become the most valuable tangible asset he will ever own, as it lights the path before him in a world of otherwise deep darkness. Sad to say, but many Bibles, if there is one, do nothing more than collect dust in the homes of many who claim to be Christians (followers of Christ).

The practice of feasting and the giving and exchanging of gifts to celebrate religious, secular, and pagan holidays goes way back to the ancient world. In fact, many of the customs and traditions that have infiltrated the Christian Community, actually stem from practices deeply rooted in Paganism, after putting a Christian spin on them.

Making a hero or idol out of any personality outside of the Trinity, real or imagined as in the case of Santa, can be a devastating eye-opener, when the truth about their very existence, or whose agenda it is they are actually promoting, are uncovered.

Here in the Western world, the “Christmas” Holiday season has become “big “ business, determining the financial well-being and future of many businesses.

Human viewpoint, and what it has to say about the “spirit of the season” is expressed and reiterated in much of the literature and classical motion pictures that have come out of Hollywood over the years.

Although entertaining, many are focused on human reformation and doing human good, and leave out, or barely mention, what the spiritual significance of the birth of Christ is really all about. He came to do for us, something that we could have never done for ourselves.

Turning over a new life and mending or ways does NOT, in of itself, open the gates of Heaven, as even an atheist can do that for a variety of different reasons, but still be spiritually dead. To enter Heaven, one MUST (John 3: 5, 7) be born again. Good deeds may be evidence of having been born-again, but are not the means to be so.

In my personal and professional life (30-year law enforcement career), I have experienced and spent some Christmases and other holidays being overshadowed by tragedy and the residual effects of what life had brought to me personally, and to others I interacted with professionally on the scenes of death and destruction.

The amount of criminal activity, domestic violence, suicide, drug and alcohol overdose, drunk driving crashes, and wild parties are among the types of activities that tend to increase during the holiday season that law-enforcement agencies have to address.

For many people, the approach of a new Christmas season has a way of stirring up old memories, coupled with the absence of those who will no longer be with us to share the season.

I will never forget a conversation I had with my mother when she was 48 and I was not yet 23, nearly 50 years ago. It wasn’t Christmas time yet, but somehow it became the topic of our conversation. Christmas had always been her favorite holiday season, and during our conversation she kind of joked about how many more Christmases she had left to experience. Neither one of us had a clue that there was to be no more. She was to be called home to be with the Lord that very summer.

A couple of years later, just a few weeks before an upcoming Christmas, my wife and I suddenly suffered the loss of a stillborn son, following what had been a full term, uncomplicated, no-worries, nine-month pregnancy.

As most folks went about finishing up their Christmas shopping that year, I had to go and make final arrangements for the burial of our still-born son that the Church we attended at the time offered no services.

I had to return many of the articles that had been purchased for what would have been in the nursery. I still remember the look on the overworked girl’s face during the holiday rush at the exchange desk when she coarsely asked, and was told, “there was nothing wrong” with the items I was returning, they were just not going to be needed.

I was no stranger to death. Within a relatively short period of time when I was in my early twenties, I had buried my grandfather, grandmother, father and mother, as well.

My personal and professional experiences during some of my Christmas seasons taught me the need to be sensitive to the private pain and suffering that others may be going through while most others joyfully celebrate the “happiest time of the year.”

Granted, Santa Claus, Rudolph, Frosty, Scrooge, feasting, exchanging of gifts, displaying decorations, etc., are all a part of the annual activities that many folks have come to enjoy, but this joy can go away just as fast as it came, if God, or the things of God, are left out of the picture.

Regardless of one’s personal good or bad present circumstances, a maturing believer will celebrate the true significance Christmas, with the eternal hope that His gift brought to mankind some 2,000 years ago.

End of Part Three

End of Presentation