THE ORIGINAL “STAR TREK”
Matthew 2:1-12
READ BUBBA CLAUS (David Dykes)(Listed at the end of the message)
* Do you know what a “Trekkie” is? Well, I am one. IN 1966 Bill Shatner took the helm of the starship “Enterprise” whose “Mission was and is “to seek out new life & civilization, to boldly go where no man has gone before.” Those words launched an era which now (and I’m glad), has five different TV series & 10 movies. (11th in 2009) The starship Enterprise, so it seems, just won’t go away.
* However, September 8, 1966, wasn’t the first “Star Trek” on record. As we have already said those wise men or “Magi” followed the star looking for Jesus. Do you know what they found? Jesus. The Son of God. The Savior and Messiah.
* This first “the star trek” could be introduced just like the Star Series and Movies begin, that is, seeking out new life and going where no one had ever gone before. Today, our hearts long to find Jesus, once again. What does this “trek” involve?
1. INVOLVES FOCUS
a. The magi said, “We saw the star” and have come to worship Him. Their focus was finding the Messiah. They took at least a year from their schedules to find this Messiah.
b. For me, it is a little more than interesting that the light of the star led them to Jesus, the light of the world. John 1 tells us that “In HIM was light, and that light was the life of Men,” Additionally we are told that Jesus is THE LIFE. The life sent from God is exactly what the magi came seeking. How convenient that God marks the spot with Star!
c. The Birth of Jesus wasn’t hidden; God hung a sign out for all to see. It wasn’t a stork sign in the front of the stable which read, “It’s a boy,” rather it was a star which rang out from heaven, “Here is MY SON!” Yet, the only ones who saw it were the ones who were paying attention and focusing the things of God.
In December 1903, after many attempts, the Wright brothers were successful in getting their "flying machine" off the ground. Thrilled, they telegraphed this message to their sister Katherine:
"We have actually flown 120 feet. (We) Will be home for Christmas."
Katherine hurried to the editor of the local newspaper and showed him the message. He glanced at it and said, "How nice. The boys will be home for Christmas." He totally missed the big news -- man had flown!
d. How often do we miss the big news? In the late 50’s, the Russian Cosmonaut went into space and is reported to have said, “I see God nowhere.” When the American Astronaut went up shortly after, he is reported to have said, “I see God everywhere.”
e. Why do we miss Jesus at Christmas time? Because we are looking for earthly presents. Why do we miss Jesus every day? Could it be that we only look for earthly pleasures? On what is your life focused?
2. INVOLVES FORSAKING
a. This is not a popular concept today. In today’s ‘meistic’ attitude we prefer not to hear that God expects us to deny self, take up our own crosses, and follow Him. In fact, in 2004 at Robinwood I greeted a guest at door. She was unusually cold and stern. As I offered my hand and a smile, she walked past me and said, “You guys are too narrow minded and demanding.” Whether we want to hear it or not, believe it or not, or like it or not; to find the “star” of Heaven requires forsaking.
b. The Magi forsook their lifestyle, friends, schedule, and even family for a while in order to find the Savior. The disciples left their boats, jobs, and all the rest to follow Jesus. In fact, in Mark 10 Peter says, “Lord, we have left ALL, to follow you.”
c. One thought about this forsaking, “It’s a matter of the heart.” We will not forsake what we love for the nominal. 1 John tells us to “not love the world or the things of this world.” Yet, too often this world wins out in our life. What do you bring God as a sacrifice?
3. INVOLVES FOLLOWING
a. Verse nine quotes the Magi as saying we “followed the star.” Had the Magi not followed the star, they would have been like the rest of the world. God came down and the world was too busy to stop and take note. Think about this; both the Shepherds & Magi focus, forsook, and followed and the results were life changing. I submit that many are missing out on knowing God because they are not following. Some may “say” we are following, yet as Matt 15:8-9 records, “They honor me with lips, but their hearts are far from me.”
b. So exactly what does it mean to follow? We can paint a modern day picture of followers like David, Koresh, Jim Jones, or Charles Manson (these are just the Americans). To see the bodies of Jones FOLLOWERS strewn over the compound in Guyana is to realize the expectation of “follow ship.” The magi followed the “star in the east” while we are called to follow the bright and morning star whose name is Jesus. If any man would follow me, let him deny, take up his cross, & follow.
* Let us pause at this point and consider some very personal and pertinent issues for us today. For this Christmas season on what are we focusing our attention? What is it that we have turned away from in order to more fully follow Him? These three truths are interwoven together. When we allow sin into our lives our focus gets blurred and not being able to focus on God and His plan, we tend to make an attempt to take control of our life. To take over my life is to quit following the one who gave me the life in the first place. And if “I” have taken over my life and am not following Christ, then for sure, I will not be “comfortable” in forsaking anything at all.
* How does this play out? Think about how easy it is to lose focus on something or someone. At home, Piper gets focused on TV and nothing distracts her. We can talk to her, at her, or around her and she is oblivious!! For most of us, the ability to focus is suspect and without the ability to completely focus, our ability to follow is greatly hampered. Truthfully, most prefer to be “leaders” instead of “followers”, but the best leaders always have someone in sight that they are following. This week I read the story of Businessman Eli Black in NYC. He is known for basically 2 things; 1) He masterminded the multi-million dollar takeover of United Fruit and 2) He jumped from the 42nd floor of the Pan Am building in NYC. The article ended with this thought; “If you are going play follow the leader, you better know the one you are following!”
* At this time of year, we can do a self-evaluation and truly determine who it is “EXACTLY” that we are following, the Star or the ____?
4. INVOLVES FINDING
a. The only journey (or trek) worth making is the one, which you already know where you will wind up and what you’ll find there. The magi knew that the Messiah had been promised, so they never faltered or failed on their journey. The results of their faithfulness and seeking were that they found Jesus. Isaiah 55 tells us to seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Then Jeremiah 29 says that we will find Jesus when we seek Him with our whole hearts.
b. Some have never found Jesus. Why? Because they are looking in all the wrong places. They are not following the evidence which leads them to Him. The arrogance of the American culture has caused us to “buy into” the lie that we don’t need Jesus, there are many ways to heaven, just find one. Somehow we have decided that we can give God the crumbs of our lives (tip instead of the tithe) and all is well.
c. We have decided that is it not important to do things His way because HE is obligated to be available when WE decide WE need Him. The sad part is this; the Bible teaches us differently. Hosea teaches that God can and will withdraw from us to the point that we cannot find Him.
d. Why would He do this? Because of SIN. In times of sin the only prayer He hears is a prayer of repentance. When you don’t feel your prayer are reaching the throne, then repent. It is a part of your trek today.
5. INVOLVES FALLING
a. For the purpose of time, I almost did not bring this to our attention, but as I prayed about this text, it is my belief that this is one of the most forgotten of all the needed actions today. Look at verse 11 and watch. (Read) The came before a young child and fell on their faces in humility, devotion, adoration, and reverence. This seems to be a common occurrence. The Magi bowed, the disciple on the mountain fell down, and one day—we shall all bow down. Don’t miss this truth.
b. Whether you complete the original star trek or not is encapsulated at this point. Both you and I will fall in worship, devotion, repentance, and commitment at the feet of Jesus in this life, OR we will fall before Him under the pressure of being Judge by the King of Kings.
c. Some say, “I am not going to submit to anyone!” Basically, you have missed out on Christmas, on God’s gift, and on eternity. Last time I checked 100% of people living, die. The Bible says, it is appointed to man one time to die, and after this, judgment. Wouldn’t you prefer to face the judge as someone you know well? Fall down in submission, respond to His call, take this “Star Trek” and find Jesus.
I began this message with that opening tag line from Star Trek, so I will end up with some of those same words. Jesus came to seek our NEW Life for us. He said, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Paul writes about a “new creation” through transformation in Christ. Jesus didn’t stop with New Life He continued to “New Civilizations.” Jesus said, “I will build my church” and in Acts 2 through the Holy Spirit He began the process. If we ever come to understand the power found in the pure New Testament church, we will understand it is a civilization inside of a civilization. But Jesus didn’t stop with New Life and New Civilizations; He is the original “going where no one has gone before. Every day we follow Him, we progress down a road that has the potential to lead us to uncharted places.
Here is the clue; It begins with a decision to take the journey.
For all of you who are looking for Santa this week, I need to read a memo to you.
To: All Southern USA Residents
From: Santa
RE: Replacement Santa
“I regret to inform you that effective immediately, due the growing population, I will no longer be able to serve the Southern United States on Christmas Eve. However, I have provided a replacement for you, my third cousin, Bubba Claus. His side of the family is from the South pole. There are a few differences between us that you need to know:
1. Instead of milk and cookies, Bubba Claus prefers that you leave a RC Cola and pork rinds.
2. Bubba Claus’ sleigh is pulled by flying coon dogs instead of reindeer. (Santa made the mistake of loaning him a reindeer once, and his head now overlooks Bubba ‘s fireplace.)
3. Instead of hearing “On Comet, on Cupid, on Donner and Blitzen...” you’ll hear, “On Earnhardt, on Wallace, on Gordon and Jarrett.”
4. The classic Christmas movies such as “Miracle on 34th Street” and “It’s a Wonderful Life” will be replaced with “Boss Hogg Saves Christmas” and “Smokey and the Bandit IV.”
5. Bubba Claus doesn’t wear a belt. So make sure that the wife and the kids turn the other way when he bends over to put presents under the tree.
