parables and pearls
(AS FEATURED OVER THE BIOLA HOUR)
THE ADVANCE OF CHRISTMAS
LOST IN THE WRAPPINGS There is an interesting story which touches the heart concerning a christening which took place many years ago in a small European principality. On the day of the af fair many guests were invited to the home. Dressed in their finery, the people were met at the door by the servants who took their wraps. After all had arrived, there was gaity, frivolity, and food. Then, someone asked appropriately, “Where’s the baby?” A servant was sent to fetch him, but soon she came running downstairs with the announcement that he couldn’t be 'found. A thor ough search began, but all to no avail. Finally, one of the guests re called that she had seen the baby lying on a bed upstairs where the wraps had been placed. Checking on this, a tragic scene met their eyes. The guests were horrified; the par ents grief stricken to see the lifeless form of their small son. Forgotten, overlooked in the hilarity, he had been smothered to death. What irony! The one who was to be feted lost his life as the real purpose for the gathering was set aside; the babe to be honored lost his life. What a picture this is of our modem day Christmas. In the very joyous season before us, Christ’s life is for gotten and set aside. Satan tries to smother out the real truths of the nativity. Men do not wish to be reminded that “He came to seek and to save that which was lost!” What place have we given to Christ in our Christmas. May it be that “in all things He might have the pre eminence!”
Have you noticed how toys today are more expensive, and more de manding from the graphic pictorial given to them on television and in other forms of advertisements? Vance Havner has appropriately written, “The coming of Christmas brings along with it nowadays, as never before, a flock of fellow-trav elers to which most Bible-believing Christians may have become re signed, but with which they by no means can be sympathetic. The scandalous commercialization of our LorcTs birth gets underway by late summer. By Thanksgiving it has been stepped up for the deafening cresendo that increases by the day, until frantic shoppers are complete ly buried under an avalanche of sales talk. Reminded by the hour how many shopping days they have left, they drive their exhausted frames to make the ¿leadline with that exchangable tie for someone they had forgotten, who remem bered them last year. Come Christ mas and a nation of nervous wrecks whose minds have been in stores for weeks and consequently are in poor condition to warm their hearts in church. Santa Claus starts coming to town earlier every year, and where- unto this mania w ill grow we dare not prophecy.” May we as Chris tians be bearers of the good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people . . . for unto us is born . . A SAVIOUR, which is Christ, the Lord! * * * "There is no right way to do a wrong thing!" 28
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