Charles Dickens’ novel A Christmas Carol was released
on December 19, 1843, and has never been out of print. It tells the story of
Ebenezer Scrooge, a wealthy, sour, stingy man who says, “Every idiot who goes
about with ‘Merry Christmas,’ on his lips, should be boiled with his own
pudding!” Yet, one Christmas Eve, Scrooge is radically changed into a generous
and happy man. With great humor and insight, Dickens’ book captures the
universal longing for inner peace.
As a young man, the apostle Paul opposed Jesus and His followers with a
vengeful spirit. He “made havoc of the church, entering every house, and
dragging off men and women, committing them to prison” (Acts 8:3). But one day
he encountered the risen Christ, and his life became a different story
(9:1-16).
In a letter to Timothy, his son in the faith, Paul described that
life-changing event by saying, even though he was “a blasphemer, a persecutor,
and an insolent man . . . the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with
faith and love which are in Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 1:13-14).
Jesus was born into our world and gave His life so that we can be
forgiven and transformed through faith in Him. This is the heart of Christmas!
A change in behavior begins with God changing our heart. (RBC)
