You don’t have to be good to receive the most precious gift.

When it comes to figuring out what Christmas is about there are 2 main players – Santa and Jesus. As you walk through any shopping center you are bound to see one of them in the Christmas display. In a way both of them have a similar message – they both want to give you something.

Santa has presents that he wants to give you. And what do you have to do to get them? You have to be good. That is what Santa says to the children:  “Have you been good this year?” The message Santa gives is that you have to be GOOD to get the presents.

But Jesus says exactly the opposite. His gift is for those who know that they have’t been good. He has come to give forgiveness to those who know that they have ignored God.

The other big difference between Santa and Jesus is how long the gift will last.

With the stuff that Santa gives you are lucky if it lasts through Christmas Day – let alone all the way to next Christmas. If you are lucky you may get a warranty with the gift.

But Jesus promises his gift will last a lot longer than that. Listen to what he says:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have ETERNAL LIFE.”  

(John 3:16)