The Spirit of Christmas

Christin Ditchfield

Bah! Humbug!

For years Ebenezer Scrooge scoffed at those who celebrated Christmas. Then on Christmas Eve, this "squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner" came face to face with his own wretchedness-the greed and lust that enslaved him-and the terrifying doom that awaited him. Scrooge encountered the Spirit of Christmas-Past, Present, and Future. In a heart-rending moment, he discovered the true meaning of the blessed holiday. And then:

"He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew . . . Ever afterwards . . . it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge."

Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol has become a classic-one of the most beloved holiday stories of all time. It's a story of faith and hope, of transformation, redemption, and rebirth. It's a story that points us to the first Christmas and the true meaning of the holiday . . . the birth of a Savior, Jesus Christ, born to bring hope and redemption to the world.

"Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10-11).

Dickens wrote his own version of the first Christmas-not for publication, but for his family. It was called The Life of Our Lord. In this book, Dickens shared from his heart, his own experience of the life-changing power of the gospel. He began simply,

My Dear Children,
I am very anxious that you should know something about the History of Jesus Christ. For everybody ought to know about Him. No one ever lived, who was so good, so kind, so gentle, and so sorry for all people who did wrong, or were in any way ill or miserable. . . . And as He is now in Heaven, where we hope to go, and all to meet each other after we are dead, and there be happy always together, you never can think what a good place Heaven is, without knowing who He was and what He did.

Who was Jesus? The Bible tells us He was-and is-the Son of God. "When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son . . ." (Galatians 4:4). "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation . . . For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell" (Colossians 1:15,19).

And what did He do? He died on the cross for our sins. The Bible explains that all of us have sinned and fallen short of God's holy standards. The punishment for sin is death-eternal separation from God. Jesus came to save us-by paying the penalty in our place. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

Jesus was the very first Christmas gift. He is the true Spirit of Christmas. When we confess our sins, believe in Him, and receive His forgiveness, we are born again. "Whoever has the Son has life" (1 John 5:12). "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

When Ebenezer Scrooge encountered the true Spirit of Christmas, his life was miraculously transformed. Your life can be transformed, too. Accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and welcome into your life the peace and joy of the true Spirit of Christmas. You might pray something like this:

Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner in need of a Savior. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I turn now from my old way of life and ask that You fill me with the true Spirit of Christmas. Help me to live my new life in a way that pleases You. Amen.

© 2002-2005 Good News Publishers. Used by permission.
Translated by permission of Good News Publishers
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