In How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Dr. Seuss speculates on the reason for the Grinch’s sour attitude.
“It could be his head wasn’t screwed on just right.
It could be, perhaps, that his shoes were too tight.
But I think that the most likely reason of all,
May have been that his heart was two sizes too small.”
Dr. Seuss had a gift few possess—the ability to elicit a smile even when describing a cantankerous character. He also had the advantage of depicting fictional personalities. You, however, live in a real world full of people with hostile attitudes. No amount of whimsical imagery or well-wishing rhymes will overcome the malice of a sinful heart.
And only in a Dr. Seuss book is music responsible for softening a rebellious heart. It is God and God alone who brings the spiritually dead back to life. As with all the lifeless, each is entirely passive until the soul is divinely animated, having been renewed by the Holy Spirit.
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes and be careful to obey My rules. (Ezek. 36:26–27)
Take note of what happens after the dead are brought to life. His Spirit will “cause you to walk in [His] statutes and be careful to obey [His] rules.” The newborn Christian’s inclination to sin has been exchanged for a desire to obey God. The leopard who had no power to change his spots has now been transformed! Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments,” and if you are His, then that is the very thing your new heart wants to do!
In the Dr. Seuss tale, a conversion ensues.
“And what happened then? Well…in Whoville they say,
That the Grinch’s small heart grew three sizes that day!”
It’s at this point in the classic animated version that an X-ray of the Grinch’s chest shows his heart expanding three times. A biblical X-ray reveals that this, too, is what happens when one becomes a “new creation,” that is, when the old has passed away, and the new has come.
Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me Your law! I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set Your rules before me. I cling to Your testimonies, O LORD; let me not be put to shame! I will run in the way of Your commandments when You enlarge my heart! (Ps. 119:29–32)
Is a desire to be taught from God’s Word on your mind this Christmas season? Are you more interested in clinging to His testimonies or to new toys? Are you running in the way of His commandments, or running up a tab? The Advent season is an opportunity to remember that millions of believers over thousands of years waited with hope for the Messiah to come, just as we wait today with hope for His return. As Dr. Seuss put it…
“’Maybe Christmas,’ he thought, ‘doesn’t come from a store.’
‘Maybe Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!’”
The apostle Paul, in admonishing the church in Corinth, told them that he was writing to them “as children,” as he instructed them to “widen [their] hearts” (2 Cor. 6:13). As the day approaches that celebrates the birth of the Savior, seek to be taught, to cling to His testimonies, to run in His commandments and to widen your heart. Choose to keep Christ central in your Christmas.
Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift! (2 Cor. 9:15)