‘Tis the season.  Everywhere we look there are sales, trees, shoppers, parties and fat men in red suits.  Does your kid sit on the fat guy’s lap?  Yes, in most people’s mind, ‘tis the season for Santa Claus.  Every year, I say something about Santa Claus.  Usually, I illustrate some way that people are making a god out of Santa.  This year, I am only going to look at one simple thought.  The lie.

We know one family where the parents make it quite clear that the kids must “believe” if they are going to get any kind of gift.  Is Santa Claus real?  Of course not.  So, if you are telling your kids he is real, and they must believe in him, what are you doing?  You are lying to them.  I know, many people think it is harmless.  Is there a harmless lie?  Is there some time when it is okay to break one of the ten commandments?  No. 

Pr 6:16-19 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: (17) A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, (18) An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, (19) A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Did you notice in that passage that one of the things the Lord hates, that are an abomination, is a “lying tongue.”  That was not qualified.  God hates it when we lie.  Whether it is a little white lie or a giant whopper, a lie is a lie.  Telling your kids they must believe is a lie. 

Not only is it a lie to tell your kids they must believe in a man that does not exist, you are teaching them to lie.  The family I mentioned has a seventeen year old son who tells you he believes.  I have met the boy, he is fairly bright!  Does he really believe in Santa Claus?  No, but his parents have taught him that it is okay to lie about this.  So, since he has been taught that it is okay to lie about believing in Santa Claus, why should we believe him when he says he believes in Christ?

The worst aspect of this is the lie perpetuated in some churches.  When someone brings the lie of Santa Claus into their home, it is their decision.  However, there are pastors out there who do not have the backbone to stand up to their congregation and remove this blight from their church.  They allow Santa Claus in their churches.  Some even make Santa Claus the centerpiece of their Christmas celebrations. This is simply perverse.  I cannot imagine it being anymore than an abomination. 

Christmas is not about Santa Claus.  Those who make Santa their god and deceive little children into a false hope will stand before God with the blood of children on their hands.  I cannot imagine being a pastor who participates in this lie and standing before God.  Christmas is about the birth of Christ.   Jesus, God in the flesh, came to earth and was born in the form of a man for one reason: to give us the gift of salvation.  Because Jesus was willing to come and die on the cross, and pay the debt for our sins, we do not have to face the penalty of death and hell.  We can accept the gift of salvation Jesus offers us. 

Do you teach your children to believe a lie?  More importantly, what do you believe?  Jesus is ready and willing to come into your heart and save you. Will you ask HIM in to your heart today?
 

Have you ever found yourself in a storm? We all know the passage where the disciples found themselves in the storm. 

Mt 14:22-33 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. (23) And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. (24) But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. (25) And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. (26) And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. (27) But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. (28) And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. (29) And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. (30) But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. (31) And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? (32) And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. (33) Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

When we think about the disciples, we will remember that many of them were fishermen.  There is little doubt that they could read the skies and could tell when a storm was coming.  Nevertheless, the Lord sent them to the other side. Of course, the Lord knew exactly where He was sending them. He's God - He controls the storms.  Jesus knew He was sending His disciples into a storm.  We can easily assume that the disciples also knew they were heading into a storm.  If the disciples thought they were going into a storm, they could have refused but they didn't.  They trusted Jesus to do what was best for them.  The disciples were trusting God.  In this case, Jesus- God in the flesh, was sending them into a storm.  The first thing we can see from this passage is that sometimes God puts us in a storm. The disciples obeyed God and shortly thereafter found themselves in a storm.  In that storm, we see several miracles occur. 

The first miracle we see is Jesus walking to them on the water.  It is easy for us to gloss over that simple fact.  Jesus was walking on water.  Have you tried that lately?  You cannot walk on water.  It just simply is not possbile for a man to walk on water but Jesus did.  When the disciples saw Jesus walking to them, they first thought it was a spirit.  They did not believe this was actually Jesus walking to them.  However, when Jesus spake to them, they realized it was Jesus and their fears were calmed.  

As Jesus was walking to them on the water, we see the second miracle.  Peter called out to Jesus and asked Jesus to let him walk on the water.  Now we can certainly understand God walking on water.  After all, Jesus is God.  He can do anything He wants.  But Peter?  Can a mortal man walk on water?  Yes, if Jesus calls you out onto the sea, you can walk on the waves.  I can imagine Peter hearing the call, jumping out of the boat with his eyes on the Lord, and walking on toward Jesus.  Yes, Peter's faith in Jesus was so strong that he was actually able to walk on water.  Peter often gets a bad reputation.  Shortly after he stepped out of the boat and took his first few steps on the water, Peter took his eyes off the Lord and started looking at the waves. We must remember that Peter still had enough faith to take the first steps on the water. If someone told you to take a stroll on the waves in the middle of a storm, would you?  Peter had enough faith to get out of the boat.  Peter only began to sink when he took his eyes off the Lord and looked at the circumstances around him. 

The next miracle involves Peter as well. Yes, when Peter realized where he was, his faith waivered.  Your faith would have waivered too.  As Peter's faith waivered and he began to sink, Jesus rescued him.  Literally, Jesus streched out HIS hand and took Peter to safety.  So the third miracle here is Peter's rescue from the waves at the hand of Jesus. 

We see the fourth miracle as Peter and Jesus get into the ship.  Jesus calms the waves. Again, Jesus controls the weather.  Just as He knew He was sending the disciples into the storm, Jesus knew He could calm the storm. 

These miracles are all wonderful examples of how we should trust the Lord and are also examples of how the Lord is in control of every circumstance and every detail.  However, suppose for a moment the disciples had looked at the clouds and said they were not going into the ship.  God was literally sending them into a dangerous storm. They would have been perfectly within their right to say no, but they didn't.  They trusted God.  Because these disciples trusted God, they saw four different miracles, and we got the record.  After this storm, the disciples were stronger.  They had seen another example of how the Lord was in control. 

How often do we find ourselves in a storm?  Sure, we can cause our own storms, but there are also times when the Lord sends us into the storm for own good.  Just as He did with the disciples, the Lord will often send us into the storm.  Whether the Lord puts us in the storm or the storm is of our own making, the storm is for our own good and for God's glory.  Either way, as long as we keep our eyes on the Lord and trust in Him, the Lord will protect us and the storms will make us stronger. 

Keep your eyes on the Lord and enjoy the miracles in the storms.