Music Monday: “Believe” by Josh Groban
by: Debbie Waltz
As you probably have guessed already, Christmas is my favorite. It’s not solely because of the Christmas lights, nor just the time we get to share with friends and loved ones. The season’s arrival marks the beginning of Jesus’s mission to save humanity and offers hope through a fragile baby. Jesus accomplished what was impossible for us to do. Jesus did what we could not; He lived a sinless life. He then took upon himself the weight of our sins, claiming them, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Our belief in Jesus differs from the belief in a fictional figure, such as “Santa.” This past weekend, I had the pleasure of watching “The Polar Express” with my dad. This movie tells the story of a young boy who boards a magical train, embarking on a trip to the North Pole and Santa Claus’ home on Christmas Eve. The train conductor believes this year is crucial to the main character’s development, and the boy’s skepticism has negatively influenced his belief in Santa. The proof lies in his assertion that he did not compose a letter to Santa, nor did he come into contact with him at the mall.
However, there’s a significant distinction. We have built our faith upon the evidence and accounts presented within the Bible. This hope is not merely wishful thinking, but a robust, spiritual assurance that sustains and strengthens faith. The Bible portrays hope as a profound spiritual attribute deeply connected to faith and trust in God. As Hebrews 11:1 reminds us, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (NIV). The development of this type of faith is not something that occurs quickly, but is heavily reliant upon our connection with our Lord Jesus Christ. God’s Spirit confirms our belief in our heart. We can overcome any difficulty because this relationship enables us to direct our attention towards God instead of our current situation. As Romans 15:13 states, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Take, for example, the Israelites in the Bible. Throughout many decades, they waited patiently and without giving up for their Messiah to return, passing their traditions on to future generations. They believed what the prophets had told them. But they did not expect him to come as a helpless baby.
Nonetheless, they continued to have faith. The Israelites had faith in God’s nature and faithfulness. With unwavering conviction, they were certain that God would stay true to His word, ensuring the fulfillment of His promises to those He had chosen. After all, look at the things God had brought them through already- slavery, the Exodus, 40 days in the wilderness…
As Christmas approaches, where do you place your faith? During this busy time of year, it is not difficult to get caught up in the activities and forget the genuine source of our hope. As Christians, we believe our hope lies in:
- It lies in the form of a helpless baby- Both fully man and fully God
- It lies in a sinless man who selflessly for our burdens-Both fully man and fully God
- It lies in a faithful God who keeps His Promises giving us what he wants us to have rather than what we deserve
Although “The Polar Express” is a work of fiction, I think this story highlights something that is truly extraordinary. And that is the importance of belief in something important and real. We want to believe in something more than a fictional story about Santa. We were created for something more.