Fight the Good Fight

Over the last few weeks I’ve enjoyed watching the story of the fictional boxer Rocky Balboa. In “Rocky 3” Rocky is the heavy weight champion sitting on top of the world, that is until Clubber Lang knocks him down. Rocky struggles with not only the death of his manager Mickey, but the thought that he was only a paper champion. Filled with self-doubt Rocky said, “Nothing is real if you don’t believe in who you are.”

As Rocky trained for the rematch against Clubber, Apollo Creed told him what he needed was “the eye of the tiger.” Rocky had to rediscover not only the focus, but the hunger and drive to be the champ. Unfortunately Rocky was haunted by his past causing him to be half-hearted in his training. Apollo asked, “Rock, Come on! What’s the matter with you?”

“Tomorrow. Let’s do it tomorrow,” Rocky replies.

Creed screams back, “There is no tomorrow! THERE IS NO TOMORROW! THERE IS NO TOMORROW!”

As believers we to sometime lose our edge and like Rocky just go through the motions. In times like these we find it easy to compromise and give into temptation. In the days in which we live it’s easy for us to withdraw finding comfort and satisfaction in the things money can buy rather than trusting God.

• But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for the true faith.

1 Timothy 6:11-12 NLT

The day is coming when for each of us, “There is no tomorrow!” When that day comes will we be fighting the good fight of faith or will we be lukewarm and indifferent like Rocky?

Whether you are haunted by your past or have simply become complacent today is the day of salvation. Purpose to live with your eye on the prize. None of us are promised tomorrow. Seize the moment and pursue Jesus again with first love passion.

Like Rocky strengthen your arms. With one love God wholeheartedly; with the other love others as much as you love yourself. Then on that day Jesus will raise your hand in victory saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

“Wise Guys” In Training

“Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus” is the famous reply that originally appeared on the editorial page of the September 21, 1897 of The Sun newspaper in New York. Children around the world wait in anticipation of Santa’s arrival each Christmas with his bag full of presents. I can still picture both the joy (and sometimes the terror) of children sitting on Santa’s lap at the mall. Christmastime is a great time for kids.

We’ve made Christmas fun for our kids too. But at our house Christmas was not all about Santa. Don’t misunderstand. Our kids have gotten more than their fair share of presents. Susie and I enjoy making the magic happen on Christmas Eve. Even after all the passing years there is nothing better than watching the amazement and thrill on each of the kids faces - now teenagers and adults themselves.

I hope that Christmas morning at your house is full of the same excitement, joy and love that we have at ours. At our house it is not just the presents or even Santa that makes Christmas special. This might come as a surprise, but it’s the “Wise Guys” that help to make Christmastime so special at our house.

Who are these “Wise Guys?” Like Santa, one of the most legendary, the “Wise Guys” give gifts each year at Christmas time to remind us what’s most important at Christmas: Jesus is the Gift of Christmas.

What makes makes the “Wise Guy” difference? We all know that Santa does not work alone; he has a workshop full of elves making toys and preparing for Christmas Eve. With Santa all kids have to do is wait for Christmas morning to open all their gifts. Not so with the “Wise Guys.” At our house we have “Wise Guy Apprentices.” As the kids have grown up they got to be involved in the magic of Christmas. Whether its helping to pick out a gift or wrapping presents they are involved in not just receiving but giving. We don’t just have the suspense of what we hope to get for Christmas, but together we have the anticipation of keeping the secret and giving to each other. That’s what makes Christmas morning special. Jesus said it best:

• “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Acts 20:35 NIV

Wise Guys

If I’m not careful some might think that I’m anti-Santa. Let the record clearly show that I believe in Santa. Not the mythical character who lives at the North Pole surrounded by elves and reindeer. I believe in Santa one of the most legendary of all “wise guys.”

By now you’re wondering, “Who are these wise guys and what do they have to do with Santa?” Around our house we know Santa Clause as Kris Kringle or St. Nicolas who gave gifts to those in need especially at Christmas time. Like Santa, wise guys today continue the tradition of gift giving each year at Christmas.

Why do wise guys give gifts at Christmas? You might think it began with the first wise guys better know by many as the Magi or Wise Men who traveled from the east with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh for the new born King of the Jews. Matthew includes the story of these Gentiles (outsiders from a Jewish perspective) but who played such a big part in the events surrounding the birth of Jesus. God used their gifts to provide for Mary, Joseph and the infant Jesus’ escape to Egypt from King Herod’s murderous threat (see Matthew 2).

At Christmas no manger scene is complete without these “three kings” presenting their gifts to the newborn baby Jesus. I hope this does not spoil your Christmas but Matthew is careful to point out that these Magi did not find a newborn baby Jesus in a stable but instead “they entered the house and saw the child with his mother.” King Herod believe the “baby Jesus” could be as much as two years old. Why is this little detail so important? It shows the wisdom of God - “the Ultimate Wise Guy.”

• "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV

“Wise Guys” like Santa don’t give to remember the Magi and their gifts. Wise guys give to remember the greatest of all gifts - God’s Son, Jesus. “God loved the world so much He gave. . .” (John 3:16 NLT). And who would have thought? God includes outsiders like the Magi and “wise guys” like you and me to be a part of His story of love and forgiveness. So give like a wise guy. Make each present a reminder ofJesus, the gift of Christmas.

Santa -vs- Jesus

I ran across this little letter to Santa:

Dear Santa, let me explain! See what happened was, well see it went like this, uh, one day I was, uh, dang, I'm getting coal huh?

It got me to thinking. We all know that Santa is making a list; he's determined to find out who has been naughty and who has been nice. As a parent it makes for a great motivator to get the kids to do their chores around the house . . . err that is until they outgrow Santa. As little kids we all wanted to be on Santa's nice list.

But as the years pass we begin to pile up some things that are not so nice. Yes I confess; Santa knows I've been naughty (much more than twice). It's not just the weather but my heat that's cold as ice. Will the good things I do be enough to suffice? When placed on Santa's scale my good deeds must be no more than a few grains of rice.

Okay, Dr. Seuss I'm not, but you get the picture. What good must we do to at least balance the scales of our naughtiness? None of us want to be written off Santa's nice list. And therein is the problem. With Santa we must earn the gifts put in our stocking or under our tree. And if we're not good enough then all we may find is that dirty lump of coal.

But Jesus is different by far. He does not require us to earn His favor.

• For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8 ESV)

Salvation is God's work from start to finish. We don't have to earn His forgiveness . . . rather we can't earn it. It's a gift for all who are simply willing to receive it.

"Dear Jesus, let me explain . . . "

"Don't explain it, just tell me."

"Well what happened was . . . God I've really blown it - again. Forgive me."

"Look to the tree. Remember my final words, 'It is finished.' I forgive you."