Pastor Ron Burcham, Risen Savior Lutheran Church

When my kids were younger, I had a great plan to save money. I was going to tell them that we celebrate Christmas according to the Mayan calendar, and Christmas is Jan. 12. Why Jan. 12, you ask? Because of the awesome after the holiday sales, of course! Sweaters that were $65 on Dec. 24 are now $25. Toys are 20% to 30% off, and even video games are on sale. That hard-to-get toy that was on backorder, is now not only in stock, but on sale! Think of the money we could have saved. We probably could have paid for their college! Alas, my wife wouldn’t go for it. She said something about doubting that the Mayans celebrated Christmas, and we shouldn’t lie to the children.

I do find it curious that one day an item is worth a certain amount and the next day it is only worth half as much. What happened in those 24 hours that passed? Certainly, fashions didn’t change that quickly. Things like clothing don’t have an expiration date on them. It’s not like a jacket will not keep you as warm if you buy it after Christmas.

I suppose this applies to much more than the holidays. After all, the day that you turn 16 you are now able to attain a driver’s license. You turn 18 and you can vote, and at 21 you can purchase alcoholic beverages. Nothing dramatic happened at the stroke of midnight, yet your circumstances changed. The above changes, for the most part, are all positive. Unfortunately, there can be negative consequences when you reach certain milestones, many of them very unfair. When the company decides that at your age you no longer bring value and now your career is over. When the health insurance provider decides that you don’t qualify to be an organ donor recipient. Maybe it is more subtle and now, in general, folks just don’t value your opinion because they believe you are out of touch.

There is one who sees you as having extreme value and He never changes his opinion, no matter what the calendar displays. In the Bible, a man named Paul wrote these inspired words:

“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38–39)

Your value to God never changes, and there is nothing in all of creation that can change His mind. You were worth Him sending His child to be born on Christmas, to die for you on Good Friday, and to come out of the grave on Easter. He wants to be by your side now and for all time. You are invaluable to Him every day!