I love the television commercial that ran this Christmas of the little boy in a jewelry store who plunks what looks to be less than $10.00 in crumpled up bills and a hand full of change on the counter in front of the clerk. It is obviously everything that he has saved through the year in a piggy bank. The look on the clerk's face shows that there is nothing in her display case that the little boy could afford. She looks in desperation to his Father who is standing behind him, who lifts up his hand to display a credit card that was hiding in his crossed arms. She smiles and proceeds to place beautiful, sparkly items on the counter for the little boy to choose from.
I totally relate to this little boy on many levels. I remember shopping once with my siblings for a gift for my mother and seeing a large, gawdy, pink gem stone, butterfly pin in the display case of a local gift shop. My siblings had already decided on a spice rack, but I just had to buy her that pink butterfly pin. My dad shelled out the extra money and bought her the pin for me. (My mom, as moms do, proudly wore that pin on many occasions even though, looking back on it, it was very ugly. But to her, it was the prettiest pin in the world. Of course I totally understand this seeming fashion fail on the part of my mom because I have worn macaroni necklaces, cardboard pins laden with sequins and glitter, and Christmas tree pins made from buttons. Somehow the love attached to the gift makes it the most beautiful piece in the world! And don't even think of giggling or criticizing or staring, unless, of course you are enraptured by the beauty of the love with which it was given.)
Anyway, back to the commercial. I am pretty sure that the credit card company that purchased that ad did not realize what a tremendous spiritual lesson and accurate portrait of the true meaning of Christmas the commercial actually conveyed. Or maybe they did.
I don't know anyone who does not want to go to heaven and would not like to have God's blessings here on earth. The problem is that we can never have enough resources, money, or desire to insure heaven as our home. We are like that little boy, bringing all we have in this world to God and hoping that it will be enough for Him to award us a place in His kingdom. Even all the world's riches would seem less than what that little guy plunked on the counter to God, for the price for forgiveness of sins is very, very great. But for those of us who have received Jesus Christ and made Him our Lord, we know that when we approach the throne of God, Jesus Himself will be right behind us holding up the banner of His blood for the Father to see, assuring that the price of sin has already been taken care of and that we can have whatever treasure we are desiring from God, whether it be heaven or a blood bought blessing here on earth-healing, provision, comfort, wisdom, strength, help and whatever other need the human condition can present.
That is truly what Christmas is all about. God spanning all of time by indwelling mortal flesh so that we might gain access to all the treasures His heart of love has provided for us. And Christ, our surety that the price of this gift has already been paid in order for by His blood.
I totally relate to this little boy on many levels. I remember shopping once with my siblings for a gift for my mother and seeing a large, gawdy, pink gem stone, butterfly pin in the display case of a local gift shop. My siblings had already decided on a spice rack, but I just had to buy her that pink butterfly pin. My dad shelled out the extra money and bought her the pin for me. (My mom, as moms do, proudly wore that pin on many occasions even though, looking back on it, it was very ugly. But to her, it was the prettiest pin in the world. Of course I totally understand this seeming fashion fail on the part of my mom because I have worn macaroni necklaces, cardboard pins laden with sequins and glitter, and Christmas tree pins made from buttons. Somehow the love attached to the gift makes it the most beautiful piece in the world! And don't even think of giggling or criticizing or staring, unless, of course you are enraptured by the beauty of the love with which it was given.)
Anyway, back to the commercial. I am pretty sure that the credit card company that purchased that ad did not realize what a tremendous spiritual lesson and accurate portrait of the true meaning of Christmas the commercial actually conveyed. Or maybe they did.
I don't know anyone who does not want to go to heaven and would not like to have God's blessings here on earth. The problem is that we can never have enough resources, money, or desire to insure heaven as our home. We are like that little boy, bringing all we have in this world to God and hoping that it will be enough for Him to award us a place in His kingdom. Even all the world's riches would seem less than what that little guy plunked on the counter to God, for the price for forgiveness of sins is very, very great. But for those of us who have received Jesus Christ and made Him our Lord, we know that when we approach the throne of God, Jesus Himself will be right behind us holding up the banner of His blood for the Father to see, assuring that the price of sin has already been taken care of and that we can have whatever treasure we are desiring from God, whether it be heaven or a blood bought blessing here on earth-healing, provision, comfort, wisdom, strength, help and whatever other need the human condition can present.
That is truly what Christmas is all about. God spanning all of time by indwelling mortal flesh so that we might gain access to all the treasures His heart of love has provided for us. And Christ, our surety that the price of this gift has already been paid in order for by His blood.
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