In the beginning of the movie, a side character named Billy grew up on the other side of the tracks in a house that looked abandoned and broken down. Billy grew up poor, and because he felt poor, he felt neglected and unloved. This led him to not believe in Santa, and since he didn’t believe, Christmas never came to his house.

By the end of the movie, when the Polar Express returns and Billy finally decides to believe in Santa, Christmas comes to his house. His house now has a Christmas tree and is lit up, filled with new life.

Many of us act like Christmas has never come to our house. We lose that youthful vigor, drive, enthusiasm, and passion. We forget the feeling we had when we first put our faith in Jesus or felt that joy during worship or when a prayer was answered long ago.

We forget that at one time, the house of this world and our lives were dark, riddled with sin, and without hope. But now, Jesus has come and breathed new life into us. He has given us the ability to bear fruit, experience an abundant life, and find hope.

Because of Jesus, we go from lost to found, from poor orphan to priceless inheritance, from enemy to friend, from sinner to saint, and from hopeless to hope-filled.