by Tim Hall

Among the rituals of the holiday season is the replaying of Christmas television specials. Though we've seen "Frosty The Snowman", "Miracle On 34th Street" and "A Christmas Carol" dozens of times, there's something warm and comforting in watching them all over again. It brings back memories of happy days of the past.

I've always enjoyed Jimmy Stewart in "It's A Wonderful Life". In case you've forgotten the story, it's about George Bailey, a good and honest man who has to work hard to make a living. A misfortune comes his way, given a little boost by evil, and George decides that he is worth more dead than he is worth alive. He decides to end his life by jumping into the river. Before he can carry out his plan, however, he is given an opportunity to see what the value of his life really is. In the end, he decides that his is truly a wonderful life.

One of the most poignant scenes is when George returns to his home town as a stranger. Through a divine act, George's past life is erased. It's as if he had never existed. No one knows George, though he knows each of them. He races from one person to another, but no one recognizes or welcomes him. He is a stranger, and a very strange one at that. In this condition, he has no place to call home. It is a frightening scenario.

That could well describe our situation B.C. -- before Christ. Paul pointed to it: ". . . that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world" (Ephesians 2:12, New King James Version). Do any of us know what it means to be an alien? Not likely. We can usually find someone, in person or by phone, who will say "Sure, come on over and spend the night with us." An alien, however, has no such welcome. He's the one standing outside, looking hopelessly through brightly lit windows at scenes of family gatherings. Shivering, he realizes there is no family for him.

That was before Christ. "Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God" (Ephesians 2:19). "Welcome! Don't just stand there, man -- come in out of the cold! Here's a place set for you at the table, and a guest room has been prepared for you tonight. You're among friends!"

All who name the glorious name of Jesus Christ and submit to His simple commands have such a wonderful life given to them. Imagine that: All this and heaven, too (see Mark 10:29,30)! How could anyone refuse such an offer?