Reindeer sick, sleigh in the shop for repairs, go to your PLAN B. Cute picture, good idea. If one thing won't work, try another. This applies to so many things in life, so why not make it a spiritual application as well. Below are listed two plans; the first involves a set of rules to live by and if you can keep it perfectly... success!!! If not, then you are in big trouble; but fortunately there IS A BACKUP PLAN. Carefully read both and pick the one that BEST SUITS YOU...
For many people, this is PLAN A
WEB: Deuteronomy Chapter 5
[6] “I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
[7] “You shall have no other gods before me.
[8] “You shall not make an engraved image for yourself, any likeness of what is in heaven above, or what is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: [9] you shall not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them; for I, Yahweh, your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me; [10] and showing loving kindness to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
[11] “You shall not take the name of Yahweh your God in vain: for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
[12] “Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as Yahweh your God commanded you. [13] You shall labor six days, and do all your work; [14] but the seventh day is a Sabbath to Yahweh your God, in which you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your livestock, nor your stranger who is within your gates; that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you. [15] You shall remember that you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and Yahweh your God brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm: therefore Yahweh your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.
[16] “Honor your father and your mother, as Yahweh your God commanded you; that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you, in the land which Yahweh your God gives you.
[17] “You shall not murder.
[18] “Neither shall you commit adultery.
[19] “Neither shall you steal.
[20] “Neither shall you give false testimony against your neighbor.
[21] “Neither shall you covet your neighbor’s wife; neither shall you desire your neighbor’s house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”
For those who can't perfectly keep PLAN A
GO TO PLAN B
WEB: Galatians Chapter 3
[10] For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who doesn’t continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them.” [11] Now that no man is justified by the law before God is evident, for, “The righteous will live by faith.” [12] The law is not of faith, but, “The man who does them will live by them.” [13] Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,” [14] that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
God is faithful to what he has said; if you can keep plan A perfectly, fine for you. If you make one deviation; terrible consequences. The GOOD NEWS is that Jesus Christ was sent for everyone who can't do plan A. This is one of those cases that the alternate plan is better than the primary. Jesus supplies what you can't be... perfect. Why not read the second chapter of the book of Acts and find out the rest of the story? There you go, end of story, except that I just wish Santa had a rocket powered Cadillac instead of that little scooter!!! Who says that your backup plan should not be BETTER THAN YOUR PRIMARY!!!!