Cal Thomas: A Christmas reflection

PAUL BUTLER, HOST: Today is Thursday, December 22nd. Good morning! This is The World and Everything in It from listener-supported WORLD Radio. I’m Paul Butler.

MYRNA BROWN, HOST: And I’m Myrna Brown. We’re headed into the home stretch–the final busy days before Christmas. Commentator Cal Thomas now with a classic story on the most important way we can prepare for the holiday.

CAL THOMAS, COMMENTATOR: Back in the day when television was in black and white, there was a show called The Millionaire. The storyline was about a very rich man named John Barsford Tipton, who gifted $1 million tax free to people he chose. An aide named Michael Anthony delivered the checks to the always surprised recipients of his generosity.

Some years ago, Pastor D. James Kennedy of Coral Ridge church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, turned the story of Mr. Tifton into a modern parable. What follows is a summary of that parable.

Two Europeans who had received the million dollar checks traveled to America to see if they could find anyone here who had also received the gift. When they landed at New York Harbor and began walking down an avenue, they were astounded that everyone seemed to be celebrating Tifton Day. People shouted Merry Tifton to each other. There were Tifton cards and Tifton sale signs in shop windows. The visitors were more than surprised. They eventually walked into a Tifton cocktail party and asked several people if they had received the million dollars. No one knew what they were talking about.

They met a man named Mr. Usurper who said he thought the holiday was about a fat man in a red suit, whose sleigh was led by reindeer. Another said he thought the purpose of Tifton Day was contained in a black book written long ago, and that the book was about how to become rich or something like that. Nobody believed what it was in the book in our sophisticated modern times, he said. But it was fun to celebrate the day anyway.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. And when no one answered, the door opened and there was a descendant of Michael Anthony. He tried to get their attention because he wanted to deliver a gift to someone at the noisy party. But when no one would listen, he left. No one would receive the gift.

Have you received the gift, which is worth far more than a million dollars? Or has that gift been crowded out by the noise and distractions of Tifton parties attended by people who have refused the gift? Merry Tifton to them. Happy Christmas to those who have received the gift Jesus offers. He too stands at the door and knocks. Will you open it?

I'm Cal Thomas.

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