My dad is the Santa Claus for his local mall this year.  I have to say, it’s possibly one of the funniest things that he has ever done.   I can’t tell you the amount of laughter that has passed through our house as we have received pictures of my dad prepping to be Santa.  

Last week, my whole family went to Indiana for Thanksgiving.  One thing on the penned-in agenda was to see my dad as Santa make his big debut at the local mall.  Even though we were exhausted from all the food eaten the previous day, we all got up with excitement on friday and rushed to get ready so we would not miss the “to do” that was happening at noon.

We arrived to the mall about 10 minutes early to a sea of people awaiting Santa’s arrival.  My family and I exchanged glances of shock as we walked toward the mass.   Not expecting that kind of turn out, we all laughed as we realized the huge ordeal that this had turned out to be. We stood with some adorable children sitting on the necks of their fathers and grandfathers and waited.  Santa was to arrive in a helicopter, and the crowd was silent listening for the dull roar of the engine.  

Finally, after what seemed like an hour we heard something in the distance.  The crowd began to get excited, looking in every direction to where the helicopter could be coming from.  After appearing in the far distance it began to make it’s grand decent.  The crowd cheered as the helicopter came closer and closer to the grass where it was to land.  The suspense was killing us as it made several loops around the area before it decided to drop off it’s preciously awaited cargo.  When it landed, out stepped the man for all the pomp and circumstance was arranged.  He stepped from the helicopter waving, and shouting, (in his best Santa voice) “HO, HO, HO, Merry Christmas.”  The security in place could not contain the crowd of the children who had waited all year for Santa’s return, and they burst through the barrier.  Santa found himself in the midst of a mob, and he was loving every second.

I have to say, I am a huge Santa fan.  Up until this Christmas season we have practiced all the Santa traditions one can think of.  This summer however, my daughter became wise to the fact that Santa is not real, and was happy breaking this new discovery to my husband and I.  As crushed as I was that my baby had grown out of Santa, she agreed to keep our little secret for our son to enjoy.

As we waited for Santa to appear last week, my heart couldn’t help but think of my Saviors amazing return.  Check out the verse below.

• 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore, comfort one another with these words.

Every year we await Santa’s return, Christmas is definitely the most anticipated holiday in my house.  But how many of us are living daily for the return of the TRUE KING?  I talk to a lot of people who aren’t ready to stop playing around with sin and become serious about a relationship with Christ, but the reality is Jesus is coming back to this earth and the bible clearly tells us it will be at a time we don’t expect.  Check out this verse in Matthew...

Matthew 24:36-37

But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, not the Son, but the Father alone.  For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah.

I wonder how many of us today are ready to meet Jesus face to face?  Would you be ashamed today to see him when he comes, or are you anxiously awaiting Him to come? I know the thought might not enter your mind very often, but the reality is, it’s on God’s calendar.

As much I as I love to have fun with Santa, sometimes I wonder if Christians are waiting for Jesus as much as we wait to play Santa with our kids at Christmas.

 I challenge you to prepare your heart for seeing Jesus in the clouds, the same way you prepare your house for Santa’s big debut.