Rights!

“Hey, Jimmy, is there really a Santa?” Wow. Why couldn’t his little brother just ask mom or dad?

“Jimmy, I mean it. Is Santa real? Some of the kids in my class at school, they say I’m a big baby ‘cause I still believe in Santa.”

What to say? Well, if he told Brad there wasn’t a Santa, then he’d think he’d been lied to (not so far from the truth).

Nope, Jimmy could smell big trouble with that approach but if he told Brad there was a Santa, well, Brad could spot a lie a mile away. He’d know Jimmy was lying, and then he’d be in trouble anyway — what to do?

“Hey Jimmy, whatd’ya think, hmmm?” “OK, Brad,” Jimmy began. Then he had a thought. “Hey, Brad, why do you want to know?” A frown instantly crossed his little brother’s face.

“Well, I’ve got a right to know, that’s why! Who really comes at Christmas? I mean, is it Jesus like they say in church, or is it Santa like other people say?” Jimmy looked around. Rats! No mom or dad in sight! “Well, I don’t know. Let me think about it.”

Brad was ready – he was a smart little boy. “Oh, I get it. But I can tell the answer, ‘cause I see how you talk to your friends. You never talk about Santa, or Jesus either. Never.” And, he walked away, thinking hard.

The Jewish leaders challenged Jesus with the same sort of question: When Jesus returned to the temple and began teaching, the leading priests and other leaders came up to him. They demanded, “By whose authority did you drive out the merchants from the Temple? Who gave you such authority?” (Matthew 21:23)

So, who is it that has “Christmas authority?” Could it be Christmas without Santa? Would it?

Here’s another question. You knew this was coming. Could it be Christmas without Jesus? Would it?

Who has the authority to decide? Is it a “human-thing?” Or is it a “God-thing?”

What would happen if we decided that it’s Santa that really makes it Christmas?

Well, in the middle of all that, like little Brad said, we “have a right to know.” And God has let us know. Plainly. Jesus, God’s son, is what “Christ-mas” is all about — to God.

But here’s the glitch. We do get to decide. God has given us each free will, the “right” to choose “what it’s all about.”

What would Brad think if he based his decision on watching you and I, on listening to us?

Do we spend as much time in spiritual pursuits, preparing our hearts to celebrate the eternal gift of Jesus during the Christmas season as we spend shopping, wrapping, hurrying and scurrying?

Who/what do we talk about with our friends?

God is waiting for you to choose to spend time with him. Will you let God fill your heart – with, well, “whatever,” or will it be the incredible gift of Jesus?

Brad’s got it. We have rights. God gives us the right to choose. Will our lives be based on the temporary (although many times fun and rewarding) “stuff,” or will our priority be Christ – God’s gift of eternal life?