I Want to Be Like Scrooge
by Ray Notgrass
I don't think we give Ebenezer Scrooge a fair shake.
The main character in Charles Dickens' story, "A Christmas Carol," is remembered as the archetypical mean, stingy, grouchy old man. That, however, only describes the old Scrooge. The new Scrooge, the man changed by the visits he received from spirits on Christmas Eve, was a wonderful person. "He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man as the good old City (London) knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough in the good old world....It was always said of him that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man possessed the knowledge," Dickens wrote.
It's too bad that Scrooge is better remembered for being the man he was than for being the man he became. Scrooge could do nothing to change the past. He could only do his best today. That is all any of us can do.
Jesus told a parable about two sons (Matthew 21:28-32). Their father asked each of them to go to work in the vineyard. One said he would, but didn't; the other refused at first, then repented and went. It was the one who actually went, even after making the bad start, that did what his father wanted. The son who went to work is something like Scrooge: bad at first, but better in the end.
It seems to me we only have a few possibilities in life: (1) never mess up; (2) never do right; (3) go bad after a good start; or (4) mess up, then decide to go straight. The first is impossible, the second is hopeless, and the third is sad. That leaves the fourth alternative, which is what the gospel is about: starting over after falling into sin.
It describes the course of Paul's life. He was an enemy of the church and a persecutor of Christians, but he became a servant of God and missionary to the Gentile world. We like to think of Paul's later life, unlike the way we remember Scrooge; but undeniably, Paul had an earlier life of opposing God's way that needed the grace of God.
Given where I am in my life, living today and unable to change the past, I wouldn't mind being remembered the way Scrooge turned out. I have a past that includes some things of which I'm not proud. I needed to come to the Savior. But then the grace of God was offered to me, and I accepted His invitation. Now I believe I am a better person than I once was. I can't control how the world remembers me, but I hope I can let God work through me enough to make a difference for Him now.
Like Scrooge, and Paul, I know what it's like to have the grace of another new day. So do you.