Truth in a Plain Brown Box

With the Christmas season upon us, I've been busy shopping, decorating the tree, raking the yard, making CD's of Christmas music, and didn't even blog this last weekend.  I'm sure I'm the only one who noticed!
This Christmas poem from 2001 was in response to someone who didn't understand what Christmas was all about, and what the fuss about Jesus really meant.  It was from her I got the line about God, Vishnu, and Allah being all the same.  There are a lot of people out there who have this first brand of Christianity or spiritualism, and it might be pretty, and it might seem wise and loving, but it is a lie, and is not the reason Jesus came here in the first place.  In fact, if this first, false version of Christianity I describe in the poem is the way things really are, there was no reason for Jesus to be here at all, as I state later in the poem:

Truth in a Plain Brown Box

by

Gary Van Buren

The room had a warm, cozy, glowing light
     As we tiptoed down the stairs
The tree was inviting and glittering bright
     As we sat in our comfortable chairs
The air was filled with a welcoming presence
     As we looked beneath the tree
At the elegantly wrapped and splendid presents
     That were placed there so lovingly
The most beautiful gift was too big to hold
     Wrapped with blue angel paper
The bow on the top was made of pure gold
     But with a slightly, unpleasant vapor

Once opened, we found it a wonderful gift
     Of acceptance for everyone!
A note inside said, "We all need a lift -
     Don't discriminate!  Don't be undone!
For God loves us all; He sees into our hearts
     He knows who is naughty and nice
Drink of the wisdom this message imparts
     It's your ticket to God's Paradise!
Nirvana, Allah, Vishnu, God -
     Don't you know it's all the same?
Let this be your lightning rod
     To help you rise from your shame!
Now is the time, and you'll see heaven's light
     Regardless of what you believe
As long as you're good and you do what is right
     It's something we all can achieve!"

We smiled because we could feel the love
     And acceptance for our fellow man
And we knew it had to be God up above
     Telling us His wonderful plan!

Enraptured by this tricky paradox
     And this sticky, soul-stealing caper
We almost didn't see the plain, small box
     Wrapped in simple, brown paper

"Brown paper?" we smirked.  "How stupid and dumb!
     I hope that nobody sees us!"
We checked the tag; who's this dumb thing from?
     It said simply, "The Truth... from Jesus"

Curious, we opened it, and found the truth
     That we had exchanged for a lie
It said, "Flee the desires of youth..." (2 Timothy 2:22)
     And we heard crowds shout, "Crucify!"  (Matthew 27:22)
We read about Jesus, when He said triumphantly,
     "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
No one comes to the father except through me." (John 14:6)
     And His words would divide like a knife (Matthew 10:34)
Then and there, we learned of original sin
     And that no one is good; no, not one! (Psalm 14:3)
And we read of the nails that pierced Jesus' skin
     When God gave His one and only Son (John 19:18)
We cried when we realized He did this for us
     To save us from hell and the grave (Hebrews 7:27)
We could not find a gift more glorious
     Than the truth and the souls it would save

For if God sees the heart, and takes only good souls
     There was no reason for Jesus to die
Although God is working the main controls
     Freedom of choice He has given you and I

So ask us which gift we love most again
     And we'll tell you, "The Truth Absolute!"
For if a good tree produces good growth, then
     From this can there be no greater fruit!