December 2, 2004

[Rev. Doc]

Finding Christmas In A Fruitcake

"He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him."
John 1:10

A woman returned home from Christmas shopping. As she was going through her mail she came upon a package that to her weighed a ton. Looking at the label she saw that it was from her sister-in-law. And knowing that, she knew exactly what it was. Her annual Christmas Fruitcake. The woman took it to the kitchen and was preparing to send it down the garbage disposal. When she opened it she found this note:

"The humble fruitcake is a dessert that, like the followers of our saviour Jesus Christ, is often despised despite its sweet nature. It is unfortunate, however, that so many feel this way, because in reality, a fruitcake is very similar to any of the human beings on God's green earth.

The brown cake is our flesh, which was originally wrought by god's hands from the dust. Though it is sometimes bitter, it is moist and thick, symbolizing the labor and blood of human existence.

The nuts are little crunchy bits of sin that exist in all of us, since, like the fruitcake, we are made with sin inside of us, and only a higher power can take it out of us - provided we (or the fruitcake) let Him.

The bright fruits represent the joys of life that God gives us to uplift us, like flowers, babies, and puppies. The red cherries are especially important, because they represent the blood Jesus Christ shed to free us from sin.

The entire fruitcake is baked until it has a firm crust, similar to our skin, but possibly more similar to the shield that many place between themselves and God. As we do with the fruitcake, God needs to cut off a slice of us before the meaty insides and beautiful, tasty fruits are exposed to Him. Some people are baked too long, and as a result are impervious to God's love, so their tough skin and blinded minds eventually lead them to eternal suffering in hell, just as many an overdone fruitcakes are subjected to the trash can, garbage disposal or family dog.

So, next time you receive a fruitcake, don't cast it aside with scorn - where would we be if God had done that to us? Instead, enjoy the fruitcake, share it with your friends and family, and remember what it represents - not only ourselves, but the lord Jesus Christ, whose birth is not only the sole, undisputed reason for Christmas, but also the reason that we have fruitcakes today."

This Christmas season is your skin too thick? Do you have too many nuts and not enough fruits? Discover the real reason for the celebration.

Prayer: Ask God to help you draw ever closer to His son in the celebration of His birth.

"To perceive Christmas through its wrappings becomes more difficult with every year."
~E. B. White