He knows if you have been naughty or nice

Do you believe in Santa Clause? Before you dismiss the question it might be a good idea to take a look at how you view God. Written by John Frederick Coots and Haven Gillespie the Christmas song “Santa Clause is Coming to town” is an interesting perspective of how many view God. Take a look at the words…

You better watch out
You better not cry
Better not pout
I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town

He's making a list
And checking it twice;
Gonna find out Who's naughty and nice
Santa Claus is coming to town

He sees you when you're sleeping
He knows when you're awake
He knows if you've been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake!
O! You better watch out!
You better not cry
Better not pout
I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming
Santa Claus is coming
Santa Claus is coming to town

Many view God as outside of time at all times. He looks down on creation as removed from it and observes the activities of mankind. In this view, God is coming back to earth at some point and so you better watch out! He will likely not be happy with you. He can see you sleeping and awake, He knows you when you are bad and good. You get the picture. This song, maybe more than any other of the songs written for Christmas reveals a people who are trying to capture the spirit of Christmas in the absence of the person of Christmas.

Santa, in this song, is God’s substitute. In this song, Santa lives from generation to generation. Santa sees all things, Santa is coming back for the good and He is bringing gifts. This song paints a stick figure in its attempts to capture the wonder of a good God. The real story of Christmas is how God broke into time and became the gift of Christmas for all mankind. The real story of Christmas is that God’s goodness sent His only Son from heaven to earth to take our place on the cross where sin was finished.