[This post first appeared on http://kfbcstudents.wordpress.com]

Christmas is almost here.  For many the Christmas holiday brings great time with family, good memories, great food, gifts (some of which we will give to someone else later), and joy.  At least that is what we sing about.  For many others however, Christmas brings with it a reminder of loss, sadness, loneliness, and often depression.  Both of these hidden behind houses covered in lights and drowned out by the sound of Christmas carols on every radio station, and the constant flow of Christmas movies on every television station.

As a kid I can remember the excitement of Christmas.  Getting together with family wasn’t a huge deal for me unless there was a lot of food and the family brought presents.  I can remember going through the Christmas catalogs that came in the mail (no internet then) and circling everything I wanted for Christmas (which was basically everything in the catalog).  As a kid I had no real understanding that we couldn’t afford most of what I was circling, I just knew I had to have it.

Once the presents from family had been exchanged, all of the clothes I didn’t ask for had been begrudgingly tried on, and I had taken inventory of all of the toys I had received, there were inevitably things I didn’t get that I really wanted.  But there was still hope!  After all I felt like I had been good that year…well, for the most part.  I could still get all of those things from Santa!  Then on Christmas morning (early of course) I would race to the living room to see what Santa had brought.  While there was always excitement over the things I got there was probably always a little disappointment for the things I didn’t get.  But I usually just chocked it up to the fact that I had probably not been as good as I thought I was.

Santa can’t be enough for Christmas.  Now, to be clear I’m not saying Santa is of the devil or should be removed from his duties as giver of gifts (although maybe he could lay off the cookies and milk).  My fear though is that our view of Jesus is easily distorted into an insufficient Giver if we accredit to Him the characteristics of the cookie eating, milk drinking, reindeer owning, sleigh driving, friend we know as Santa.  Here are some quick thoughts on why Santa can’t be enough and why Jesus must be exalted as our focus:

1. In order for Santa to bring good gifts we must be good.  This is not the case with God.

Psalm 14:3 tells us that “there is none who does good, not even one.”  We find in the familiar Romans 3:23, the fact that we have” all fallen short of the Glory of God.”  If we are dependent on doing good in order to receive good from God we are in trouble.  God gives because He is good.  John 3 tells us that He gave the greatest gift of all in giving His Son Jesus because of His love towards us.  Paul tells the Ephesians that God gives salvation because of His grace not our works or good deeds (Eph. 2).  To the Romans he tells of the love He had for us “even while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  While Santa sees you when your sleeping, knows when your awake, and knows when you’ve been bad or good (all of which is a little creepy I must say) in order to determine whether you “deserve” good gifts, God knows all of those things and determines you don’t “deserve” them, but motivated by love and for His own glory He gives based on His goodness.  I’ll take that over Santa any day…

2. Santa doesn’t allow pouting or crying.  God wants us to tell Him how we really feel.

The Psalms are filled with pouting and crying, Job often laments to God of how he feels, Jonah is a constant whining reluctant prophet.  What we do not find in the Scriptures are “stained glass saints.”  Instead we find people who hurt deeply, sin regularly, fail to trust, often pout and cry, and yet find comfort and faithfulness in a God who pursues them for His glory.  Jesus echoes this desire in Matthew 11 saying, “Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  Peter writes in 1 Peter 5:6, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”  In summary, don’t pout to Santa, save that for God.

3. The gifts Santa brings this year will be replaced by a new and better gift next year.  Jesus’ death was sufficient and will not need to be offered again.

Hebrews 10 tells us that Jesus died once for all and there is no need for another sacrifice.  The forgiveness we find in Jesus through His death is sufficient and complete.  Romans 8 teaches us that God is for the believer and nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  He is all we will ever need.  Jesus is enough.

4. Santa only gives his gifts at Christmas.  Jesus is available all year-long.

While Santa only saddles up the reindeer and sleigh once a year to deliver gifts, Jesus is able to deliver salvation all year-long.  There is no season for receiving the gospel.  God is constantly at work saving the lost.  Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 6:2 that “now is the day of salvation.”  If you haven’t taken time to hear His Story do it now.  Or, maybe you just need a reminder of what the gift is really all about this Christmas.

So, this Christmas may we look to the greatest gift ever given and realize that it was given because the Giver is great and not ourselves.  May we look to the One who is sufficient.  May we run to Him with our pouting and crying to find Him faithful.  And may we share this Gift with all those we meet this Christmas season and beyond.  It is after all His birthday we celebrate.

[This post first appeared on http://kfbcstudents.wordpress.com]

Are you guilty of seeing God as more of a “Santa?”  Do you feel you have to be good to earn God’s favor?