Santa & the Second Hand Saviour

(By Michael Cassidy, African Enterprise)

When Carol and I go to Kenton on holiday at Christmas there is this wonderful second-hand shop that we love to stop in to and hunt for bargains. What fun it is each year to see what kinds of surprises and deals we can find. But my friends, however much fun a second-hand shop may be, may we not settle for a second-hand Christmas, a second-hand faith and a second-hand saviour this year.

Christmas is second-hand

A second-hand Christmas happens when one doesn't know first-hand what Christmas is all about, which is a travesty of what the Christ of Christmas wants for us. And yet, tragically, this second-hand experience is all Christmas is for millions - a kind of Santa experience or a vaguely religious excuse for yet more good-natured hedonism. Too many people don't even know that a first-hand experience of the Christmas Christ is even possible.

There is nothing more wonderful than experiencing that great thrill you get when you have proved something or made an amazing discovery in your own personal experience. Columbus could rave about the New World because he had found it himself. Archimedes could shout "Eureka!" because he himself had hit on a great scientific truth. Norman Vincent Peale can be ecstatic about the power of positive thinking because he has proved it in his own experience. And truly committed Christians can exalt over Christmas in a unique way because they have discovered its truth of "God with us" personally through knowing Jesus Christ.

To come to Christmas in any other way is most unsatisfactory for it degenerates into simply a public holiday, a vaguely religious festival and a time to whoop it up. The focus then is on the externals of presents and turkey and tinsel and lights, and the real heart of the whole Christmas experience is lost. The point is missed. This led one devout soul to pray, "Oh God, forgive us our Christmases as we forgive those who Christmas against us!"

A First-hand Saviour

Nor does the call to put Christ back in Christmas go far enough. Christ needs to be revealed not only in Christmas but also in our hearts and lives. In fact, Christmas is meant to be a daily disturbance, not an annual one. For this to become personally true for each of us involves three things - a searching spirit, a discerning mind, and a surrendered will.

In the New Testament example of the aged Simeon, we see these qualities classically illustrated. The Biblical text tells his story: "Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. Inspired by the Spirit, he came into the temple and when the parents brought in the child Jesus...he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 'Lord, now lettest thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word; for mine eyes have seen Thy Salvation...' (Luke 2:25-31)."

From this story we see the three qualities exhibited by Simeon that led to him having a first-hand experience of his Saviour. Simeon had:

A Searching Spirit

Simeon was "looking for the consolation of Israel." Are we looking and searching for the Christ of Christmas? To those who will look and search Jesus says, "Seek and you will find (Matthew 7:7)." The discovery of Christ is premised on a desire to find Him. Our questions are to become our quest.

A Discerning Mind

Simeon was also able to discern that the infant Jesus was no ordinary infant. Here at last was the Messiah. The One he had waited a lifetime for had come. "Lord, now lettest Thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation." What Simeon had previously only known in theory he now finally knew first-hand.

A Surrendered Will

Simeon speaks of himself as "God's servant." That reflects submission and obedience. Here was a man whose life was on the line for God. His spiritual profession extended to his will and his practical daily living. No wonder he found what he was looking for.

So, too, it can be with us. Our need is not for Santa but for a Saviour. And if, with Simeon, we seek the real Saviour, the Christ of Christmas, with a searching spirit, a discerning mind and a surrendered will, then our hearts too will know first-hand, our eyes too will see, and our lips too will tell that God is indeed with us, not just on Christmas Day, but always and forever.

Michael Cassidy

15 December 2002