Jesus Christ is Coming to Town
Oh, you better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, I’m telling you why.
Santa Claus is coming to town.
He’s making a list, He’s checking it twice, He’s gonna find out whose naughty or nice,
Santa Claus is coming to town.
He sees you when you’re sleeping, He knows when you’re awake. He knows if you’ve been bad or good,
so be good for goodness sake!
I chimed in on this familiar Christmas carol heard across the globe during this season. And yes, during my childhood years, I believed in Santa.
My sister and I fondly recall the angst our daddy put us through each year. He would drive the family on Christmas eve to visit his grandmother in the country. As he drove back home at night, he sung this song to remind us that Santa Claus was coming to town, and we needed to hurry up and get to bed as soon as we arrived home or we would miss ole St. Nick. My dad taunted us, “I hear Santa’s sleigh bells ringing.” Somehow, we ended up hearing them too (the power of suggestion…sigh).
My sisters, brother, and I rode all the way back home terrified. As soon as we hit the door, we quickly put on our pajamas, brushed our teeth, said our prayers, and jumped into bed trying to quickly fall asleep despite all the anxiety. Of course, once we became of age, and the truth about ole St. Nick surfaced, we enjoyed great times of laughter with our dad over this and other acts of trauma he put us through.
Yes, Santa represents one of the many fun childhood experiences and gifts of love my parents gave us. But out of all the gifts we received, our parents gave us the greatest gift of all—the gospel of Jesus Christ. They taught us the truth that Jesus Christ is real and not a childhood experience, and He is coming to town one day soon.
He doesn’t need to check a list twice, and the concern isn’t whether you are naughty or nice. God only requires one thing—faith. Believing in the person and work of His Son Jesus, and accepting His death, burial, and resurrection for the atonement of your sins.
The gift of Jesus brings new life, new hope, new joy—a gift that can be given to anyone on your list. It doesn’t cost you a cent, yet it cost Him His life. A gift that will never grow old or outdated—a gift of life for life! But you must receive the gift before He returns.
Now I know for a fact that Jesus is coming back to town. Just as children anticipate Santa’s arrival during Christmas due to the signs of the season, we anticipate Jesus’ return based on the signs He shared with us in His Word. The only question on the table is this: Are you on the list? Are you in the Lamb’s Book of Life?
So, I started thinking about that carol and these words came to me. Sing along using the same tune:
Oh, You better not delay, decide before you die, Better not wait, I’m telling you why,
Jesus Christ is coming to town.
He’s got the list, He knows His own, He’s going to take His children home,
Jesus Christ is coming to town.
He died for all of your sins, a free gift for you to take
He’ll cover you until the end,
So accept Him for eternity’s sake!
Oh, You better not delay, decide before you die, Better not wait, I’m telling you why,
Jesus Christ is coming to town.
I don’t know about you, but I await Jesus’ coming to town. I know I am on the list, the Lamb’s Book of Life, and I am His own. My hope is to give the gift of new life, hope, and joy to as many as I can. So until He comes to town, I will continue to sing Christmas carols joyfully with anticipation of His return.
