Over the next six months, we have a lot of trips planned. Most of them would be considered “vacations.” As I have been preparing for these trips, I’ve been thinking about the ones we used to take when our girls were younger. I remember one trip in particular, a trip to Disney World.

This took place when our daughters were 15, 14, and 11. We were going to meet Cheryl’s family in Orlando right after Christmas. Because I have a sister in Atlanta, we took my mom with us and went to see my sister for a few days. We left mom there and drove the rest of the way to Disney World.

We met Cheryl’s entire family there: Her parents, aunt, siblings and their families. There were 21 of us in all. We spent time with the family, wandered around Epcot and MGM studios, but we spent most of our time at the Magic Kingdom. We took pictures with Mickey and Pooh and a host of other Disney characters. Disney provided a wonderful atmosphere that allows you to forget about things for a while. There is always someone sweeping up after you, smiling employees who are willing to cater to you, characters dressed in bright costumes, people singing patriotic songs. Even though the girls left all the money they had saved and pooled together for the trip sitting on Bethany’s dresser, Dad bailed them out so they could buy their souvenirs. We enjoyed the rides, exhibits, and did things that everyone had put on their lists. It was good to spend time together as a family. Most everyone seemed happy. An ideal environment, so much so that as we were leaving the Magic Kingdom for the last time to start our trip home, Leah was kind of moping. She said to her mother, “I don’t want to leave. It’s so nice and fake here!”

There are some comparisons with that vacation and our faith journey through this life. The first had to do with the season we finished just before our trip: Advent, a time of preparation, waiting for the promise to be fulfilled. Just as the wait for Christmas seems to go on forever, so our wait for that trip stretched out. We talked about saving money, not doing some things so we would have more to spend at Disney world. Yet as we talked and planned, it always seemed like it was somewhere in the distant future, a long way off. But then, just like Christmas sneaks up on you, the time came and we found ourselves standing in the Magic Kingdom. The promise held out for so long was fulfilled.

That is how it was with God’s promise of a Savior. He made it to His chosen people, and they trusted Him, but it seemed to be far removed from them. Then all at once in a Bethlehem stable God kept His promise to send one who would pay for sin, reconcile us to God, and assure us of a place in His Kingdom. Unlike our short stay in Disney’s Magic Kingdom, our place in God’s Kingdom, secured by Jesus blood, is eternal. Just as certain as Jesus came once is God’s promise of His return, something for which we need to prepare. It seems to be in the distant future, a long way off. But it, too, will be here before we know it.

Another comparison is the way Disney puts a sugar coating on everything, a veneer, pretending that everything is just right. It is a great place, but as Leah so profoundly observed, it is fake. And in spite of their best efforts, even the Magic Kingdom is still a part of the real world. Even though the employees/cast members are clean cut and courteous, that doesn’t mean the guests are. People pushing and shoving to get at the front of the line. There was also moaning and groaning about the long wait in lines, some of which came from my mouth. And even 25 years ago Disney was promoting an agenda that is contrary to what we find in God’s Word.

Christians often try to put the same kind of sugar coating on their lives, pretending everything is fine, while just below that veneer lie all the problems of the real world. We put on a brave front, but there is turmoil all around us. Family tensions, financial concerns, personal problems.

It was into this real world that a real Savior came. Jesus was not born in Disney like surroundings. He came as an average run-of-the-mill guy. He knew all about hardships and adversity, because He experienced them first hand. Scripture tells us he was tempted in every way, just as we are–yet was without sin. (Hebrews 4:15) He came into our real world and went through all we experience. He knows it is difficult. He knows your problems. He knows you are not perfect. And that is why He came. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.  (2 Corinthians 5:21)

I mentioned earlier that the girls left the money they had saved behind, so I paid for their souvenirs. In fact, they would not have had enough for the things they wanted, they would have been short anyway. So I paid for them. That reminded me of what God has done for us in Christ. He bails us out when we would otherwise have no chance. All our efforts to please Him fall short. We would have no hope on our own. But Jesus tells us, “Don’t worry. I’ve already paid for you. You wouldn’t have had enough, anyway. I’ll take care of it.”  That is what He did with His death and resurrection. He paid your way and gives you your place in God’s Kingdom.

Vacations are nice. It is even better knowing that we have God’s forgiveness every day for Jesus’ sake.