Santa Claus vs. Jesus Christ, 4

 ~ Consider Critical Differences ~

Location  ~  santa claus lives at the North Pole. 

Jesus Christ is omnipresent (everywhere at once).  “‘Am I a God near at hand,’ says the Lord, ‘And not a God afar off?  Can anyone hide himself in secret places, so I shall not see him?’ says the Lord; ‘Do I not fill heaven and earth?’ says the Lord” (Jeremiah 23:23-24).

Physical Characteristics  ~  santa claus has “a bowl full of jelly.” 

Jesus Christ has a heart full of love.   “And we have known and believed the love that God has for us.  God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him” (1 John 4:16).

Availability  ~  santa claus is only available once a year. 

Jesus Christ is always available and willing to help.  “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).  “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20b).

Access  ~  santa claus enters your home through your chimney. 

Jesus Christ is at the door to His Kingdom waiting for your acceptance of His invitation.  “Then Jesus said to them again, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep…  I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture…  I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:7, 9, 10b).

Timeliness  ~  santa claus requires you to wait in a line to see him. 

Jesus Christ is instantly available for those who call upon His name.  “Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.  I will be found by you, says the Lord” (Jeremiah 29:12-14b)

Interaction  ~  santa claus allows you to sit on his lap. 

Jesus Christ carries you, allows you to rest in His arms, and shelters you.  Jesus said, “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?  And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing” (Luke 15:4-6).  “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27a).   “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me!  For my soul trusts in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by” (Psalm 57:1).

Intimacy  ~  santa claus asks, “And what is your name?”  

Jesus Christ knew your name before you were born.  “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5).

Jesus Christ knows all about you—every detail—even how many hairs are on your head.  Jesus said, “The very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Do not fear therefore” (Luke 12:7a).

Instructions  ~  santa claus warns, “You better not cry.” 

Jesus Christ asks you to give him all your cares.  “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7).

Movement  ~  santa claus rides on a sleigh. 

Jesus Christ walks on water.  “…the disciples saw Him walking on the sea… those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Truly You are the Son of God’” (Matthew 14:26, 33).

Supplies  ~  santa claus fills your stockings with presents and goodies.

 Jesus Christ supplies all your needs.  “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).  Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10b)

Builds  ~  santa claus requires many little helpers to make gifts. 

Jesus Christ personally mends broken homes, wounded hearts, and gives an entirely new life.  He is also preparing mansions for us.  Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29).  And, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-4).

Offers  ~  santa claus says, “Ho, Ho, Ho.” 

Jesus Christ is “Holy, Holy, Holy!” (Isaiah 6:3, Revelation 4:8). 

Gifts  ~  santa claus puts gifts under your Christmas tree. 

Jesus Christ gave us the gift of salvation by dying on a tree.  Jesus said, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:14-17).

santa claus is jolly and chuckles. 

Jesus Christ provides a true inner joy which becomes your strength.  “Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10b).

Real vs. Fiction  ~  The most important difference of all!  Have you ever heard of any wide-spread anti santa claus groups.  The reason they don’t exist is they know those are fictional characters.  On the other hand, Jesus Christ is attacked because He is real—and to admit He is real has consequences!

additional note  ~  If you appreciated this post you might like previous posts entitled “Santa Claus vs. Jesus Christ” (December 24, 2015), “Santa Claus vs. Jesus Christ, 2” (December 25, 2016), and “Santa Claus vs. Jesus Christ, 3” (December 24, 2017).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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True Peace, 3of4

 ~ 3 Locations of True Peace ~

Peace In Heaven (Christ my peace)  ~  “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.  And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near.  For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father” (Ephesians 2:14-28).     

Peace On Earth (Christ my pattern)  ~  “Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.  For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.  For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently?  But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.  For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ‘Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth’; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously” (1 Peter 2:18-23).   

Peace Inside Me (Christ my power)  ~  “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.  Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.  And He [Jesus Christ] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’  Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake.  For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

Be an insider!  Sign up for his author NEWSLETTER and receive occasional news and special offers.  His books have won national and international literary awards.  Subscribe today and receive a welcome gift.  Your email will never be sold, given, or used in any other way.  You can easily unsubscribe at any time. 

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .