Dear Satan,
There was a time that you and I were friends. You and I achieved many sorrowful and terrible things together. But, as you well know, I am no longer with you. I have been released from your presence and captivated by a new love.
It seems though you have been extra active this year to reclaim many of the Children of God whom you lost over the years. As I hang my stocking with care this Christmas, I can’t help but feel the weight of your attacks. Every day on social media, the news, and even in conversation, your handy work is displayed in racism, divorce, mass shootings, car wrecks, cancer, natural disasters and more. You have indeed been busy.
But I do not write this letter to you in hopes that you may stop… I know that is futile. I write to you that you may know the truth of where we, the Children of God, stand this Christmas. With every murderous gunshot, teen suicide, wayward step, adulterous thought and cancer diagnosis, we lay victims as well as perpetrators to the sins of the world and to the mourning that comes with this darkness. But know this; we do not mourn as those without hope (1 Thess. 4:13).
Our hope gives us what we need in the wake of your treacherous work. For the times we wept over lost loved ones, Christ gave us comfort (2 Cor. 1:3). For the times we faced trials, God renewed our strength (Is. 40:31). For the times we suffered unjustly, God made us more conscious of His presence (1 Pet. 2:19). For the times we fell into sin, God faithfully forgave us in His justice (1 John 1:9). For the times tragedy fell on our nation, God reminded us of the great things He promised to do (Hab. 3:2). For the times bitterness and forgiveness seeped into our stone hearts, God gave us new ones of flesh (Ez. 36:26). For the times our prayers seemed to bounce off the walls, the Spirit interceded for us with His celestial groans (Rom. 8:26-27).
Satan, you have done everything you can to take the message of hope and rebirth from us this Christmas. But you must know something; you will lose. Christmas is not yours to take. The Gospel message of hope and life is not yours to give or take away. The precious baby that we celebrate on this day has defeated you. Your efforts are waning; your resources are depleting, and your victory is destroyed all because of the nail pierced hands of One greater than you.
You will not take our Christmas. Death loses. Cancer loses. Hate loses. Suicide loses. Divorce, Anger, Injustice, Starvation, Tears, Bitterness and Pain lose. You lose. The God of all victory, all majesty, all truth, all salvation, triumphs over you and this is the day that we rejoice!
Satan, as I sit with my family this Christmas Eve and my Dad reads the Christmas story from Luke, I will think of you for a moment. I will collect in my mind and heart all the things that have happened this year, good and bad. I will briefly mourn over the loss, but as my Dad reads Luke 2:10-11 I will remember my Savior.
“But the angel said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the City of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord.’”
You will not take my Christmas.
Sincerely,
A Child of God