St. Nicholas Loved Jesus

He was originally known as Saint Nicholas, and lived in the late 3rd and early 4th centuries. He was known for his generosity, holiness, and service as a bishop in the town of Myra. At the beginning of the 4th century, he and many other Christians were imprisoned for their faith by the Roman emperor Diocletian. After the emperor abdicated his throne, Saint Nicholas was released, and he continued serving his Lord until the end of his life. He even stood up for the deity of Jesus and helped stop heresy from spreading.

The Dutch name for Saint Nicholas was “Sinterklaas.” Dutch settlers to New Amsterdam, now New York, brought the “Sinterklaas” tradition to America in the 17th century. Over the centuries various characteristics were added to the traditions to create an almost superhero persona of Santa Claus.

While the generosity of St. Nicholas was rightly remembered in the new character of Santa Claus, people forgot about his devotion to his Lord Jesus Christ. If Nicholas could see how this new persona has become the central theme of most Christmas celebrations, he, no doubt, would be surprised, and very likely saddened.

At Christmas it is easy to focus on presents and other pleasures of this life. But did you know the best present lasts longer than this life? It lasts forever! How will you get to heaven? Are you depending on your nice outweighing your naughty?

You can take the naughty or nice person test by seeing how you measure up to God’s standard of goodness found in the Ten Commandments. Have you ever lied? What do you call someone who has lied? A liar. Have you ever stolen anything, even as a child? What do you call someone who has stolen? A thief. Jesus said that if we look with lust at someone who is not our spouse, it is the same as committing adultery in our heart. See Mt. 5:28. Have you ever looked at someone who is not your spouse and lusted?

In James 2:10 we read, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” James is telling us that God requires perfection. Even one speck of sin* is too much to enter heaven.

“For the wages of sin is death …” Romans 6:23a. By sinning, we have earned death, eternal death. But thankfully, that verse goes on to say, “… but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23b. What did Jesus do so that we don’t have to receive our wages of death, but have eternal life? He died in our place. He paid our punishment. We owed a fine bigger than we could pay. We were headed to jail, but then someone offered to pay the fine for us. Will you accept that payment on your behalf?  John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 1:12 says, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”

Jesus is the very first and best gift of Christmas. He lived a perfect life and took the punishment of death that we deserve as a substitute for us. This gift is like all others, in that, it cannot be yours unless you reach out and take it. Unless you are willing to receive Jesus as Lord of your life, you will get the wages of death that every one of us has earned. Turn from your sin of being in charge of your life, ask His forgiveness, and surrender to Him. Then out of gratitude for His forgiveness, tell others this good news, begin reading the Bible every day, and obey what Jesus teaches.

* Sin is anything we think, say, or do (or don’t do that we should do) that breaks God’s Law.