Before I came to believe in Christ the Lord, I knew Christmas from movies and TV shows. I learnt that people decorate Christmas trees, go shopping, travel, they get together and give each other presents, and wait for someone named Papa Noel to give them a gift. I knew more about Christmas through the movie Home Alone and the animation Scrooge. In Home Alone, eight-year-old Kevin is accidentally left behind when his family leaves for France. At first, he is happy to be in charge, but when thieves try to break into his home and he tries to put up a fight. While, Ebenezer Scrooge, a spiteful and miserly man, encounters three spirits on Christmas Eve, who show him the folly of his ways and prompt him to become a better man.
And who is Papa Noel or Santa Claus??? St. Nicholas was a Turkish monk in the year 280 AD, known as the patron saint of children. Over the millennia, various cultures and countries have created their versions of the man in red. In France, Santa Claus is known as Pere Noël, and in the French colonies of The New World, he came to be called Papa Noël. Like the French Pere Noël, Papa Noël leaves toys for children following Catholic Mass on Christmas Eve. In some households, children leave out their shoes for him to fill with money, toys, or candy.
But why did I tell these stories and write about the animation and the movie? Because I want to state that in none of them did I see the gospel message, and people have forgotten what the gospel message means. I think Satan, with the help of humans, has invented a new religion of Christmas to keep humans away from the gospel message. Satan has turned the word IMMANUEL into Papa Noel. But the Christmas message to the whole world is so simple - Jesus came to this world to save us from sin and eternal torment.
“Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, since he was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had thought this over, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son; and you shall name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.' Now all this took place so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled: 'BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN WILL CONCEIVE AND GIVE BIRTH TO A SON, AND THEY SHALL NAME HIM IMMANUEL,' which translated means, 'GOD WITH US.” Matthew 1:18-23
“For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.” 1 Timothy 2:5-6
“For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.” Colossians 1:19-20
We need to know that the gift of salvation in Christ is ready and that it is enough for human beings to accept it with all their being. As we read in Romans 10: 6-9, "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." And there is no need for Papa Noel to bring salvation to us by sleigh because Christians are the true ambassadors of Christ, not Papa Noel!
"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. " 2 Corinthians 5: 18-20
Are you an ambassador for Christ bringing the real message of Christmas so that those who do not believe will want to accept the gift of Christmas, that is, Christ? Believers should share this Gift with unbelievers. This Gift is free for everyone, and it is more than enough.
Nader, your little brother in Christ
GOD BLESS YOU. AMEN
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