Dec. 14, 2025 - The Life of Christmas Present

There's something profoundly uncomfortable about looking in a mirror and seeing ourselves as we truly are. Not the filtered version we present to the world, not the person we imagine ourselves to be, but the raw, unvarnished truth of our current reality. This is exactly what happens to Ebenezer Scrooge when the Ghost of Christmas Present arrives.

Unlike the Ghost of Christmas Past who shows what was, or the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come who reveals what might be, the Ghost of Christmas Present does something particularly unsettling: it holds up a mirror to right now. Scrooge sees himself through the eyes of others—his nephew's party guests mocking his greed, Tiny Tim suffering because of inadequate wages, the real-time consequences of a life bent inward on itself rather than outward toward others.

The Ghost of Christmas Present reveals a hard truth: Scrooge is lost. Not lost in the sense of being physically misplaced, but spiritually adrift, consumed by greed, isolated by his own choices, and completely disconnected from what truly matters.

The Heart of God for the Lost
This theme of lostness connects beautifully with one of the most beloved passages in Scripture: Luke 15. Here, Jesus tells a series of parables that reveal something extraordinary about God's priorities. There's the shepherd who leaves ninety-nine sheep to search for one that's wandered off. There's the woman who turns her entire house upside down looking for a single lost coin. And there's the father who scans the horizon daily, waiting for his wayward son to return home.

What do all these stories have in common? Celebration. When the lost is found, there's rejoicing. The shepherd calls together friends and neighbors. The woman throws a party. The father orders the finest robe and kills the fattened calf for a feast.

These parables reveal where God's heart truly lies. It's not primarily with those who are already safe in the fold, already in the house, already at the table. God's heart beats passionately for those who are lost—those who don't yet know Him, who are wandering, who are far from home.

The Comfortable Ninety-Nine
Here's an uncomfortable reality: most of us are quite content being part of the ninety-nine. We naturally gravitate toward people who think like us, believe like us, and live like us. There's nothing inherently wrong with fellowship among believers—it's essential for growth and encouragement. But when our entire social circle consists only of those who already know Christ, we've missed something crucial about our calling.

We become comfortable. We become complacent. We focus inward rather than outward.

The evidence is all around us. Churches are closing. Attendance is declining. Entire generations have walked away from organized religion, identifying as "spiritual but not religious." Many children raised in church now have no religious affiliation whatsoever.

Why? Perhaps it's because we who are found have stopped seeking the lost. We've become so comfortable with our ninety-nine that we've forgotten about the one.

The Invitation Challenge
The Christmas season presents a unique opportunity. It's one of the few times of year when people who don't regularly attend church are actually open to the idea. There's something about this season that softens hearts and opens doors. Cultural Christians dust off their Sunday clothes for Christmas Eve services. Memories of childhood church experiences resurface. The message of hope and peace resonates differently when snow falls and carols play.

But here's the challenge: Who are you inviting?

It's easy—too easy—to invite people who already go to church. It's safe. It's comfortable. But it misses the point entirely. The lost sheep doesn't need an invitation to join a different flock; it needs someone to search for it where it actually is.

The real challenge is to identify the Scrooges in your life. Who do you know whose life looks nothing like Christ's? Who is bent inward, focused on all the wrong things? Who is isolated, hurting, or simply disconnected from any faith community? These are the people who need an invitation.

Eating with Sinners
Jesus had a reputation. He ate with tax collectors and sinners. He attended parties that the religious establishment wouldn't be caught dead at. He met people where they were, not where He wished they would be.

Following Christ means being willing to do the same. It means showing up at the holiday parties where the eggnog flows freely and the conversation isn't always church-appropriate. It means building genuine relationships with people who don't share your values or your Sunday morning routine.

This isn't about compromising your faith. It's about living it out authentically in the real world, among real people with real struggles. It's about being the presence of Christ to those who need Him most.

The Joy of Finding
Imagine what our churches would look like if every Sunday included a celebration for someone who was once lost but is now found. Imagine the energy, the excitement, the sense of purpose that would permeate our communities of faith.

That shepherd didn't just quietly bring the sheep back to the fold. He hoisted it on his shoulders and called everyone together to celebrate. The woman didn't just pocket her found coin. She threw a party. The father didn't greet his returning son with a lecture. He ran to him, embraced him, and ordered a feast.

God celebrates when the lost are found. Shouldn't we?

This Christmas
This Advent season offers more than just nostalgia and tradition. It offers an opportunity to align our hearts with God's heart. To look beyond our comfortable circles. To seek those who are lost. To extend invitations not just to services, but to genuine relationship and community.

Who is your Scrooge? Who needs to see themselves in the mirror of God's love? Who needs to know that they matter, that they're worth searching for, that there's a place for them at the table?

The Ghost of Christmas Present showed Scrooge the truth about his current life. The Gospel shows us the truth about God's current mission. The question is: Will we join Him in seeking the lost?