You’re Being Watched…

The Western world has been enjoying the “Elf on the Shelf” phenomenon for the last few years now.

But just in case you’ve missed it, let me read you an excerpt from the official ‘Elf on the Shelf’ website to give you an idea of what this is all about:

The Elf on the Shelf® is a special scout elf sent from the North Pole to help Santa Claus manage his naughty and nice lists. When a family adopts an elf and gives it a name, the elf receives its Christmas magic and can fly to the North Pole each night to tell Santa Claus about all of the day’s adventures. Each morning, the elf returns to its family and perches in a different place to watch the fun. 

So the Elf on the Shelf is, basically, a more efficient way of Santa Claus keeping an eye on children – making sure they are behaving themselves. Because obviously as we all know, Santa only gives good gifts to good children.

These Elves are highly skilled little creatures, they don’t miss anything, they cannot be tricked, they can’t even be bribed; everything you do or don’t do will be communicated to Santa Claus on a daily basis.

All joking aside, this idea of an all-seeing Elf – it’s really quite frightening. Imagine if everything you’d ever thought, said or done had been noted down and recorded.

This is what the bible says in Hebrews 4:12-13

No creature is hidden from His sight, all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

According to the bible, everything I have ever done or ever will do will be recorded and presented to God. I wonder what list I will be on? Naughty or Nice? What about you?

If you stood before God would He put you on his naughty or nice list? In fact scrap that question – as you stand before yourself today – what list would you put yourself on?

I’ve got some really exciting news for you:

Whilst Santa gives generously for those who are on his nice list, God actually gives generously to those who are on his naughty list.

Let me just explain what I mean by that.

God’s love of you isn’t conditional – it’s not based on how well behaved you’ve been. In fact, because He knows you inside and out, He knows that you struggle with things from time to time. His gift of forgiveness is to those of us who humbly recognise that we didn’t make the nice list.

In the same way that sick people need a doctor – sinful people need a saviour.

I’ve got no problem celebrating the kindness of jolly Old Saint Nicholas, but the real message of Christmas is the kindness of God.

He came as a small baby, the one who created the oceans and sculpted the mountains chose to be born as a vulnerable fetus. Born for one main purpose – to give His life as a ransom for many – to give us the gift of new life.

Mild He lays His glory by, born that man no more may die,

Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth.