263 Christmas: The Bells of Belief

There is a popular holiday movie based on an award-winning children’s book called “The Polar Express.” In the story, a young boy is unable to hear the bells at Christmas. The reason? The disappointment of life had dimmed his belief and wonder. It was only after a magical encounter that he was able to believe again.

Now, I know that story is about Santa Claus, but there are some striking parallels to our walk of faith. Life in this cold, dark world has a way of dimming our belief, too.

Maybe this Christmas, the bells in your heart have gone silent. You once believed in a good, loving, powerful God – back when you were a kid.  But then life got in the way. The doubts began to creep in.  

To you who struggle to believe that there is a God who’s in control, who cares, and who understands, Christmas holds the answers to your questions. 

Is God in control? God literally moved heaven and earth to fulfill His purposes for mankind. He moved the heart of a king so His Son would be born in Bethlehem. He can handle whatever you’re facing. 

Does God understand? Jesus didn’t come as a conquering king or as some sort of superhero.  He came as a baby to dirt-poor parents among a marginalized people.  But even more, He was born in a barn and slept in a feeding trough, wrapped in rags. Why? So that we would never wonder if He knows what it’s like to really live in this cold, dark world under the worst of circumstances.  

In “The Polar Express,” there’s a great line offered by the train’s conductor in his attempt to get Billy to at least investigate the possibility of another reality.  He says to him, “Sometimes the most real things in this world are the things we can’t see.”

The Apostle Peter thought the same thing. He wrote, “Though you have not seen Him, you love Him.  And even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.” (1 Pet. 1:8)

God came to our world and faced all of its ugliness firsthand. He understands exactly what you and I face – because He faced it too. God came to earth in human form, seeking us.

And if you will go on an honest pursuit of Him, God promises that you will find Him (Jer. 29:13).  And you, too, will be changed for the better.  

Text: Is. 9:2, 6-7; 1 Pet. 1:8; Jer. 29:13

Originally recorded on December 24, 2007, at Fellowship Missionary Church, Fort Wayne, IN