As a believer, I was hesitant to tell my toddlers about Santa. It frustrated me that this jolly, red-suited man stole the show from Jesus’ miraculous birth. Plus, Santa’s image was curated as an extravagant gift-giver, in his flashy sled and flying reindeer, prompting the inquisitive questioning of “Mommy and Daddy, what did you get us?” But my biggest trepidation around old St. Nick was how our children would take the news once they learned he was make-believe.

For better or worse, the myth of Santa was thwarted earlier than expected when a neighborhood kid with older siblings spilled the beans. This resulted in all the other imaginary holiday friends going up in smoke, as our son asked one by one the truth about the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, and even the lucky St Patrick’s Day Leprechaun. It shattered his young mind and heart. My heart broke a little too, plus I was fearful this traumatic lesson at such a tender age might have him question if Jesus Christ was imaginary too.

We were recently reminiscing about the neighborhood snitch and I still felt the necessity to look at my son and say, “Jesus is for real! He isn’t a fairy tale we’ve been telling you.” The reality is, Jesus is not a fictional character. He is the True North, our moral compass who is “the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8), and Whose “word endures forever” (Isaiah 40:8). Jesus knows the lies of the world, He lived here. He was tempted by the devil (Matthew 4). He is fully aware that Satan is still trying to deceive us, distract us, and “steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10). And He has a better way, one that He desperately desires for us to seek so we can “be holy in all we do” (1 Peter 1:15).

When His disciples asked about eternal life, “Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him” John 14:6-7.

Jesus is all of God’s promises, in human form. Jesus is the only living way to a relationship and eternity with the Father. He is the standard of Truth. He is Truth!

What lies are we currently believing? What is Satan doing to confuse us today? What tools is the Father of Lies (John 8:44) using to influence us? What topics and concerns are we sweeping under the rug to avoid being challenged, or canceled by friends in real life and social media? Where do you seek and speak the Truth? Where is society pushing lies not only to us but to our more innocent and vulnerable teens and children?

I remember arriving at a family anniversary party to find my name tag next to my older sister’s. We were both in our early 20’s, yet hers read Miss and mine was titled Ms. It felt strange. Almost controversial. Later in the evening I sweetly asked the party planner why our tags were different. She said that’s how I indicated it on my reply card. I was stumped. In the moment of sending my response, did I write too quickly, was my handwriting misread? I can chuckle now, but at the moment the title felt very foreign on my name tag.

How times have changed. How I wish Miss and Ms. were still the extremes for a twenty-year-old female to select. Today’s choices are numerous and confusing. A friend recently sent me a homework assignment containing many of the new pronouns and gender identities. It was difficult for me to follow the sentence, almost like reading a foreign language. I stopped reading and wondered: If I can’t understand this, how can the students? How is this being taught in our schools, many times without parental knowledge? Why are we discussing gender concerns before children are even in puberty? I folded my reading glasses, let out a sigh, and prayed, Lord, how did we get to this point? How can Truth become victorious in this scenario? 

I believe He will WIN. Above I shared some of the unchanging characteristics of God. Other wonderful attributes are the promises He offers His children throughout the Old and New Testaments. Promises that also won’t change, that won’t disappear like fast fashion, but will remain in place through eternity. A few include:

  • Regardless of what we have done, if we confess, God promises to forgive us. (1 John 1:9)
  • And God promised to finish the work He started in us (Philippians 1:6). God does nothing in half measure. Regardless of where you or your loved ones are in faith today, the Truth remains the same. He desires to be in a relationship with you! Go to Him. “Our God is near us whenever we pray to him” (Deuteronomy 4:7).

I’ve gotten over my dislike for Santa Claus because I know that Jesus is the true abundant gift giver.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10 ESV, emphasis mine).

God may not be a giver of the latest electronics or headphones, but He provides the most extravagant gifts we can’t buy: the gifts of salvation (Romans 1:16), eternal life (John 3:16, John 5:24), rest, and lifting of burden in times of trouble (Matthew 11:28–30)…the list goes on because His presents are infinite and perfectly selected for each of us.

Receive His gifts. Please come alongside me reading scripture so that we are equipped with the True North Lens to the current culture, and keep talking about the abundant life from believing the Truth of Christ Jesus.

 

Pray with me –

Lord, we need You more and more as society is teaching and believing Satan’s lies. Please direct us and correct our thoughts to remain on “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise” (Philippians 4:8). Thank You for being present in my life and my family’s, for them knowing and loving You is the greatest gift of all. Amen.

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” 3 John 1:4.