Conscious of Sin, Then Conscious of Victory: thoughts on A Christmas Carol

     I remember as a child watching an old black-and-white version of "A Christmas Carol" at my grandma's house. Like many others who have read or watched this classic tale, I was appalled by Scrooge's greed, felt sorry for Bob Cratchit, loved nephew Fred, was awed by the Ghost of Christmas Past, enjoyed the Ghost of Christmas Present, and was enchanted by the Cratchit family - especially Tiny Tim. But when the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come made his appearance I was afraid. (I hid under the covers for most of his scenes.) What a relief to see Scrooge once again in his own room. All was right with the world again - and not only that, Scrooge was saved!
     Good endings make a story, but the best endings usually come after there's been triumph over conflict - a major conflict. Hiding under the covers (or skipping to the back of the book) to avoid the unpleasant parts might seem inviting, but if there is no conflict, the victory loses it's power.  I'm not one to shy away from confronting a problem, but I often wish there was no problem to begin with. (Let's just skip those unpleasant "scenes"!)
     I'm currently reading 52 Little Lessons from a Christmas Carol by Bob Welch (and loving every page!). In the opening chapters of his famous book, Charles Dickens describes Scrooge as a "squeezing, wrenching, grasping, clutching, covetous old sinner. Hard and sharp as flint, .... secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster." Harsh words indeed, but certainly an apt description of the character Scrooge.  In our world of "political correctness" we shy away from placing "labels" on people. We discourage others (and ourselves) from placing "judgments". And while I'm not condoning a judgmental attitude toward our fellow man, I will point out that many times this leads to a lack of discernment when it comes to truth - the truth about others and ourselves. The truth that we are ALL depraved and in need of salvation.  If we have no sin in our lives why do we need a Savior?
     The title of the second chapter in 52 Little Lessons from a Christmas Carol is a lesson in and of itself: Growing Wiser Means Getting Uncomfortable. Excerpts from the chapter shine a little more light: "... (Dickens) wanted us, as individual readers, to squirm a bit when we contrast our lives with a higher standard..... He wants us, as individuals, to confront our own ghosts. He wants us to feel the chill of regret if necessary and like Scrooge, to make changes in how we live....... In short, Dickens is shooting for nothing less than spiritual or moral revival in those of us who read his story....... Isaac Newton's first law of motion suggests that everything continues in a state of rest unless it is compelled to change by forces impressed upon it. A Christmas Carol is just such a force...."
    While difficult to put into practice, we should honestly desire those "forces" which require growth on our part. While they may seem heavy and unbearable "for this present moment" they work for us a "far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory".  While to me as a young girl, the Ghost of Christmas Future seemed bleak and scary, in actuality he finishes the work that brings about the eventual change in Scrooge's heart. Without his contribution Scrooge may never have experienced true freedom. Because coming face to face with our own immortality brings clarity to situations we might rather ignore. And while confronting the darkness may seem frightening, it is, in the end, what will bring about true victory.
     Once again returning to Bob Welch's book, I love how he brings out a very pertinent observation on how we place barriers in the way of receiving the truth about ourselves - that whole idea of becoming uncomfortable in order to gain wisdom. When we become aware of (and therefore uncomfortable with) shortcomings in our life, we have a choice: we can face them and allow Christ to change us, or we can rationalize that the problem is not us, but someone else. "...when encountering those who serve more admirably, (Scrooge) mindlessly dismisses them as people who are exploiting him.... The more Scrooge grumbles, the more Scrooge convinces himself that he is a victim to all this blather. The more he feels like a victim, the less responsibility he feels to change. And the less responsibility he feels to change, the more he becomes encrusted in his own meaninglessness."
     Don't let satan convince you that you are a victim. This reminds me of a quote I recently copied:

"The consciousness of sin may degenerate into defeatism.

"It's too bad, but that's the way I am." (one might say)

The devil rejoices when we are defeated but is afraid of the consciousness of victory.
The devil makes us conscious of sin; but the Spirit of God
makes us conscious of sin and then conscious of victory.

-Corrie Ten Boom, Amazing Love

  In A Christmas Carol we find this true in Scrooge's life. His entire life is played out before him making him conscious of sin and shortcomings, pain and sorrow. But to what purpose? To defeat him? Of course not. To illustrate that no one is too far-gone. Anyone can change through the power of Christ. Because of the utter desolation that was Scrooge's life, the light and salvation at the end of the story shines so much brighter.

"but the Spirit of God makes us conscious of sin and then conscious of victory."