The Perfect Gift

If only our lives were as simple as Santa’s.

Ask a child how Santa knows where to go and he or she will tell you. Santa has Rudolph.

You know—as in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. In his famous song Santa asks, “Won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?” The rest, as they say, is history—uh, make-believe history.

While that works in the fantasy world, what about in real life? How can you find your way?

For the real world, a GPS gadget is just the ticket. GPS stands for “Global Positioning System.” It relies on a system of satellites to pinpoint where you are and show you where to go.

We used one on our Thanksgiving trip. It was amazing--our own personal guidance system.

To get to places we’d never been before, it was invaluable. Instead of straining to see tiny print on a map and missing exits due to heavy traffic, we listened to the calm GPS voice. It told us when to turn and where to go. It even knew locations of gas stations and restaurants.

For familiar places we still followed the GPS directions. As a result we found new routes with less traffic and shorter travel times.

It was a little scary because we had to trust an electronic gadget. But it never let us down.

If only there was a GPS for navigating through our personal lives! Wouldn’t that be great?

Well hold on for just a minute—there is one. It’s called the Bible.

Someone said B-I-B-L-E stands for “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.” I like that.

The Bible says in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths.”

Even when life gets scary, God is the Shepherd who guides us. He will never let you down.

Israel’s King David wrote in Psalm 23, “He leads me.” He said, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me.”

Later the Psalmist adds, “For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.” Then, “You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.”

In the New Testament Gospel of John, Jesus tells us he is the Good Shepherd who leads his sheep. But here’s the key: you must trust him enough to follow him.

The only way to find out where Jesus will lead you is to follow him. It’s like when we used the GPS. When we followed it, it worked. If we didn’t trust it, we would have been lost.

Skeptical? That’s OK. Try getting to know Jesus first. Read about him in the Gospel of John. Talk to others who have followed him for a while. You’ll find he never lets you down.

Jesus invitation is simple: “If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.” The choice is yours.

But you must find Jesus for yourself. For that you need the Bible. It’s God’s GPS to lead you to the babe in the manger who became the Savior on the cross.

God planned the first Christmas so we wouldn’t miss his Son. God announced through the prophets that Jesus’ birth would be in Bethlehem. That way we’d know where to look. All the prophecies are like flashing arrows pointing to Jesus.

Just as God led the wise men to Bethlehem and Jesus, he is trying to lead us to Jesus. The point of the Christmas story is not the gifts of the wise men but the gift of God.

The Bible says, “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord.” It’s the perfect gift that keeps on giving. And it’s for you and everyone who will call on Jesus’ name.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

The Real Christmas Present

Frosty the Snowman’s first words when he came to life were “Happy Birthday!”

The TV show is an annual favorite for many during the Christmas season. I guess the writers thought that Frosty’s first day of life was naturally his birthday. And it makes sense in the world of cartoons.

In a video I watched the other day a small child was asked why we celebrate Christmas. Her answer? “Because it’s Santa’s Birthday!”

At least the TV show and the little girl got it half right. Christmas is about a birthday, but not Frosty’s or Santa’s! The fact that some children may think so shows that we need to do a better job teaching them about Christmas.

No doubt some kids even think Christmas is about them since they get all the presents. Many children receive more presents at Christmas than they do for their own birthday!

Well hold on just a minute. Whose birthday is in anyway? And why all the presents?

The Encarta World English Dictionary defines Christmas as “an annual Christian festival on December 25, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.” It says that it’s also become a secular holiday when people traditionally exchange presents and greetings.

We practice many of our Christmas traditions without ever giving thought as to why we do them. Exchanging presents is a good example. Why do we do that?

One reason we give gifts is to help us remember that the birth of the Savior was God’s great gift to the world. Talk about a surprise gift! Most people don’t think they need a savior. They don’t feel like they’re drowning or trapped and need to be rescued. Why a savior?

Two thousand years ago Israel was hoping for a savior to deliver them from the rule of the Roman Empire and Caesar. What they got was One who offered spiritual salvation instead of political deliverance. And the nation’s leaders rejected it.

But God turned the rejection and death of Christ into an offer of salvation for the whole world. The Bible says that faith in Christ brings deliverance from sin and judgment to come.

What a gift! Salvation that doesn’t depend on being born into the right family or belonging to the “right” religion. Salvation that is free. What a Christmas present!

Today many people are drowning in failure and the consequences of bad decisions. In the Bible God gave us standards to live by. Those who break his rules often suffer the consequences in their health and in their relationships. The Bible calls that “sin.”

Unable to fix our broken relationship with God, we need someone to save us. And that’s where God’s great gift comes into the picture. God’s purpose in sending Christ was for him to become the Savior of the world. To save us from sin and its consequences that lead to death.

The angel told the shepherds, “Today in the town of David [Bethlehem] a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). People who heard Jesus and personally experienced his ministry recognized that he was “the Savior of the world” (John 4:42).

So this Christmas, before you put down your credit card to buy those presents, pick up a Bible and turn to the Gospel of Luke. Read about the first Christmas in chapter two. Join in the wonder the Shepherds felt when they saw Jesus, the Savior. Worship him with the wise men.

When a person recognizes who Jesus is and puts their trust in him to save them, God gives them the ultimate gift, eternal life. That’s the real present of Christmas.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!