Santa Knows! (With Seven Ideas for a Christ-centered Christmas)

The popular Christmas song* says,

“He knows when you are sleeping.

He knows when you’re awake,

He knows if you’ve been bad or good,

So be good for goodness’ sake.”

Santa’s omniscience and omnipresence were probably invented by sneaky parents who wanted their children to behave during the months before Christmas.

It comes across like bribery: if you’re a good little boy or girl, you’ll get presents. If not . . . (wicked laugh, here) . . . you’ll only get a lump of coal or a bundle of sticks in your stocking.

My brother and I decided to be especially good before Christmas!

I was convinced that Santa knew.

I was a believer.

I didn’t want to displease Santa, and I wanted my presents!

There is Someone who actually sees us all the time. He is everywhere. It’s much more important that children are taught that God sees them. It’s important for adults, too. If people feared God like they used to fear the myth of Santa Claus, the world would be transformed.

The Bible says,

• For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him (2 Chronicles 16:9).
• The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good (Proverbs 15:3).

God sees and evaluates. Look at the examples of Omri and Asa.

• But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the LORD, and did worse than all that were before him (1 Kings 16:25).
• And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God (2 Chronicles 14:2).

The Lord is everywhere, and He knows everything.

• Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me (Psalm 139:7-10).
• Jesus said, For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known (Luke 12:2).

We’re all accountable for our actions.

• Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right (Proverbs 20:11).
• Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment (Ecclesiastes 11:9).
• So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God (Romans 14:12).

So, what does this have to do with boys and girls, teens, and adults today?

• Because we know that God knows everything and sees us wherever we are, we will be more conscious of our actions. We will want to please our heavenly Father. We will change.
• We will also be mindful that we have constant access to the Lord. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil (1 Peter 3:12). He’s right there, and He wants to listen to us. This should encourage our hearts.

At Christmas, we would do well to teach our children about Jesus, rather than Santa. Here are seven ideas for making your Christmas more Christ-centered:

1. Get rid of the Santa myth from the very beginning. Tell the children it's just a story and that the Santas they see are just people dressed up in costumes.
2. Put up a manger scene, so that children can visualize Jesus' nativity. There are several hands-on manger scenes made for children, and you can also put up very pretty ones that aren’t to touch.
3. Read the Christmas story to your children.
4. Act out the Christmas story at Christmastime. My family did it every year, and we loved it—until we got to be teens.
5. Take your children to a live nativity scene at a church near you.
6. Make sure you connect the gospel (Jesus’ death for our sins, burial, and resurrection) with His birth. This is a wonderful opportunity to share why He came to earth as a Baby.
7. As a family, give to those less fortunate. God gave us Jesus, therefore, we give to others. Make sure gospel tracts go into each present.

Have a blessed Christmas!

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* “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” was written by John Frederick Coots and Haven Gillespie. It was first heard in 1934.