… for ages 12 and up
Santa is humankind’s birthday celebration analogy for Jesus Christ.
To celebrate Jesus’s birthday, we project ourselves onto Santa and we project Santa onto Christ’s spirit.
Over the years, society has mostly corrupted that beautiful analogy. Today Santa is largely idolized as a profit maker for us to gain benefits from. Santa’s original character and purpose was the personification of sacrifice for others. Today, many have become greedy.
Young children are of course, innocent. They are kids. Kids are pure. It’s us grownups that are guilty.
But not all grownups are guilty. I don’t mean to paint such a bleak picture of humanity. But our world is under evil’s influence and has been for quite a while now… thanks partially to our leaders. But it takes followers to have leaders.
Fortunately, there’s a light at the end of the dark tunnel. Love, patience, and determination will help get us to the light. A little prayer wouldn’t hurt either.
When I was younger, I believed that I would go to Heaven if I BELIEVED that I would go to Heaven. I think a lot of people think that way. But it’s dead wrong. We will only make it to Heaven if Jesus Christ opens the door for us. We all must pass through Jesus Christ to enter forever lasting.
I really hope that I make it to Heaven. But I certainly don’t deserve to. None of us grownup humans outside of Jesus Christ do. Grace is our key to Heaven and Christ is our doorway. Nothing I’ve done or could ever do qualifies me for Heaven.
There’s plenty I’ve done that doesn’t.
But in all fairness, Jesus had one perfect Parent. He was immaculately conceived in Mary by God… the Father of the Universe. I know that sounds like science fiction. But if you think about it after researching it, Jesus Christ makes perfect sense in God’s good and perfect plan.
Jesus was born here for two reasons. To teach us how to behave and to save us from death. We can live past death through His grace when we repent and do our best to follow His teaching.
To be clear, grace is not earned, it’s a gift. A gift from Jesus Christ (Santa). Christ gave us His life so that we might live.
It’s proper for us to show respect, gratitude, and obedience, but we don’t earn a place in Heaven simply by believing. Sure believing is fundamental, but a repentant heart demonstrates our belief.
Our thoughts and behavior reveal our heart.
Mine and your sins are quickly forgiven when we repent. The repentant criminal on the cross next to Jesus is our prime example of hope for us all.
Jesus will open the door if He recognizes us as a friend and follower.
Jesus Christ knows our heart and thoughts!
Being a friend and follower means that we obey the rule to love.
Love God, and love others as we love ourself.
I know a lot of “Christians” who claim to be Jesus’s friend but don’t obey the rule. I know a lot of “non-Christians” that do obey the rule.
Jesus knows us ALL.
Jesus Christ is the naughty and nice list doorman. He will either open the door to Heaven for us as a friend (maybe a new friend… like the thief on the cross) or else He won’t recognize us and we are lost on the naughty list (like the second thief on the other cross). In the latter case, it’s likely that we won’t recognize Him either.
Love is where you want to be.
We have all tasted the forbidden fruit – the knowledge of good and evil. We inherited that from our parents. Many of us think that we know more than God. But like Job’s friends, we’re mostly ignorant.
Especially, when we think we’re smarter than God.
A little humility goes a long way toward Heaven.
Jesus Christ overcame Death for us all. His basic teacher message is to LOVE.
To be clear, that doesn’t mean have sex until you go blind. Or try and force others to think like you do. It means ACTIVELY show God you love Him by loving where you live and respectfully helping others.
Including enemies.
Our enemies believe we’re the enemy too. If we love them, we give them the opportunity to make a new friend. We do that with a two way street called empathy. Not always easy, but reward only comes with effort when it’s applied from BOTH sides.
Evil will be defeated in due time. Evil propagates because we let it. God will put an end to it Himself one day.
When evil gets too far out of hand, God will step in. This message is throughout the Bible. Two examples are the book of Job’s allegorical theme on life and Revelation’s graphic metaphorical lesson on death.
It’s also common sense. Evil is self destructive. Hate permeates evil.
Jesus Christ’s second return to Earth will be the end of hate.
His birth was a new beginning for us all.
We celebrate Christ’s birthday tomorrow.
