December 15, 2021 – Click here to listen
I went to a Christmas party in our neighborhood last night. It got dorky in the end when they played a game of trivia. The theme for the trivia was Christmas and it was all about Santa Claus, with questions about who played the bad Santa in a movie, how many reindeer in Santa’s sleigh, what kind of “spirits” are mixed in some Christmas celebration drink, what is the main ingredient in ginger cookies, and so on.
Our team only got three questions right and a friend was ragging me about not knowing the answers. I don’t want to be the Christmas grim but really? Santa Claus? Spirits in drinks? (I could only think that it was evil spirits.) We thought flour might be the main ingredient in ginger cookies, but it is molasses. Who cares? Bah humbug . . .
Now if they had a trivia contest about the true meaning of Christmas there is no doubt I would have fared better and perhaps won it. Sadly, celebrating the birth of our Savior seems to be almost a thing of the past. The other night they had a caravan of golf carts touring the island to look at the Christmas decorations. Not a nativity scene could be found. The reason for the season could not be found.
The event last night had an open bar, and I went over to get a coke or some water and all they had was beer, wine, and punch spiked with vodka. Fortunately, I had brought a bottled water. My wife knew one of our neighbors who was working the bar and had run into her on her way to Bible study a few days before. They briefly discussed their happenstance meeting and then my wife asked her if she would like to go with her and her friends when they went this week. She laughed and said she would have to “think about that one” and some onlookers got a big laugh about her comment.
This morning’s Bible study of the 22nd chapter of Jeremiah reminded me of last night. Verse 21 tells it all: “I spoke to you in your prosperity, but you said I will not hear. This has been your manner since your youth that you did not obey My voice.” The people were being warned about their impending destruction if they did not repent, but they would not listen. So similar to the times in which we live.
I suppose many think I’m an old prude from a different time, but I will continue to stand with God’s word until I’m toe up and being shoved into the furnace at my cremation. My friend Jack Murf the Surf Murphy had a saying that he used frequently, “Just do the right thing”. The world is trying to turn that upside down by saying what is wrong is right and what is right is wrong, but the truth can be found in the Bible.
I advise anyone reading this, don’t follow the world but follow Jesus Christ. He is what Christmas is all about and His death, burial, and resurrection is what Easter is all about, not some mythical bunny that lays colored eggs. (Geez! How did the world buy into that garbage?)
So, should we avoid Christmas parties and those who drown themselves in alcoholic beverages and hit on each other’s wives? Jesus didn’t avoid them. He went to the lost and shined His light into their darkness. No, we had a good time last night and there was no need to get drunk to enjoy the evening with friends. Importantly it provided an opportunity for my wife to invite a friend to Bible study. I was proud of her for doing so and I believe Jesus was as well.
Remember the POWER of our witness is not ours but the Holy Spirit’s. It is the Spirit who transforms our lives, and a transformed life is evident to all. To become an effective witness, we must spend time in prayer, appropriating the Spirit’s power so that we are enabled to let our light shine in such a way that others will recognize the power of God in us. In other words, we should live our lives in such a manner that others will see the peace, joy, and love in us and want the same thing for themselves.
Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.