*This article first appeared in the December 2022 issue of Faith on Every Corner Magazine. I’m happy to share it here as well 🙂
In December of 2018 I was a year and a half into what has now become an avid reading habit. At the time, it only seemed appropriate that I should read Dickens’ classic, A Christmas Carol. I’m sure I had read it at some point in my life, perhaps in middle school or high school, but I wanted to read it anew through the eyes of a late thirty-something. It did not disappoint! In fact, I loved it so much that I decided to make a tradition out of reading this wonderful story in December of every ‘even’ year. And so, with December 2022 upon us, I’m anxiously awaiting my third journey with this beloved tale.
Of course, the well known theme of the book is the redemption of old Ebeneezer Scrooge; how this awful, hard-hearted man is transformed upon coming face to face with the reality of who he truly is. Through the intervention of the ghosts of Christmases past, present, and future, he sees the need to change- and seizes the opportunity to do so. At the story’s conclusion we see him as a kind, thoughtful, generous human being, far removed from the man of stone he once was.
These are the stories we love so much. A beautiful story of a redeemed villian is one we never grow weary of reading. This is the reason I also love Les Miserables. The way Jean Valjean is forever changed by the compassion and generosity of the priest, is to me, one of the greatest storylines in classic fiction literature.
Why is this? Why do we love the Scrooges and Jeans of this world so much? Perhaps because they remind us so much of ourselves. We know we are people in need of rescue- in need of a transformation that is only possible through something outside of ourselves. We love these stories because whether they intend to or not, they reflect the gospel.
During this season, as our minds are fixed on the coming of the Savior into the world, we remember the reason why he came. The Apostle Paul described this reason perfectly when he wrote, “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost,” (1 Timothy 1:15, ESV). Yet, this was not a new message. Jesus himself told us for what purpose he had come: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost,” (Luke 19:10, ESV).
I love that the same book which begins so famously with the birth of Jesus makes no mystery regarding his purpose. He came for us, to save us from our sin that we might be reconciled to a holy God. But the saving of Jesus is so complete, so thorough, that it includes even more! For not only are we spared from God’s wrath, but through Christ we are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). As part of our saving, we are transformed into something entirely different from what we were: where once we were dead, through Christ, we are now alive; where once we were enemies of God, hostile to Him and all His ways, now we are brought near to Him, with hearts full of love and adoration.
While I look forward to reuniting with the characters of A Christmas Carol, even more, I look forward to reading again and again the life-changing truth of the gospel.
Truly, Christ our Savior, whose birth we celebrate this month, has come to save us from sin and to sanctify us through and through (1 Thessalonians 5:23). This transformation is so radical, so glorious, that the transformation of Ebeneezer Scrooge utterly pales in comparison.
May God bless you as you celebrate the transforming love of our Savior this season!
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