The True Christmas Miracle

I was touched by an effort of generosity and goodwill by WestJet.  Their video of Christmas giving has gone viral, no doubt prompting various responses.  It made me profoundly happy, seeing the shocked faces of people who were happy to receive their gift requests.  Check out the video below.

While I was genuinely blessed by the depiction, I realise Christmas and even apparent acts of "goodwill" are viewed these days with increasing cynicism.  For everyone like me there may be a skeptic who humbugs the idea, questioning the motives of a company for giving.  It's nothing more than propaganda, some might say.  It's a glorified commercial.  WestJet did not do this out of the goodness of their hearts because they are in the business of making money.  Think of the business this stunt might net them!  They probably could afford those gifts because they overcharge people with fees and bag restrictions, some might scoff.  The points by the skeptics and scoffers may be true.  I have no knowledge of the true motive behind the "WestJet Christmas Miracle" or how the idea came about.  But this video nails one thing square on:  Christmas is a time for giving and receiving.  But it is a gift far greater than electronic gizmos, toys, or apparel.  Jesus Christ is the greatest gift ever given man may receive.  Let every heart prepare Him room.

Jesus Christ is the greatest gift ever given because He is God made flesh, the Saviour we need.  He is the Creator, Deliverer, Redeemer, and Messiah sent by God to save people from their sins.  We cannot grow out of Him.  He does not need batteries, power cords, or software updates.  Through Him we have access by one Spirit to the Father.  The salvation and everlasting life Jesus Christ provides is beyond price, but He has given Himself to all who believe at His own expense.  He is the gift we always needed but never in our wildest dreams could have expected.  Jesus has been given not as a ploy to make a few bucks or improve customer loyalty.  He was not sent as some Divine manipulation to trick us into allegiance or service.  Jesus Christ was sent and became a sacrifice for sinners because of love, mercy, and grace from God towards man.  When Jesus was born the angels shouted, "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill towards men."  God has given peace to men from a heart of love.

Though the WestJet "miracle" was thoughtful, generous, and kind, there is nothing to suggest it was love that motivated their giving.  Santa knew the names of the children (because he had their booking information!) but we do not know that he loved them.  People all over the world give and receive gifts during the Christmas season not motivated by love at all!  We can be motivated by traditions, obligations, greed, and all manner of unwholesome and unholy reasons to give or receive.  The Bible teaches that Jesus demonstrated His motive of love through His death on the cross for our sins.  Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  The cynics may grumble, the skeptics might scoff, but the truth of God's Word endures forever.  For those who receive the Gospel and are born again by grace through faith in Jesus, nothing can separate us from the love of God.  What a miracle, that God would humble Himself to put on human flesh to save sinners!  Jesus is the greatest gift ever given, and one we should receive and celebrate always!