“The King Has Come!”
December 28, 2008
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14
Christmas is over. The King has come. And Herod is in a rage. Mothers are weeping in anguish because of his jealousy. The wise men are returning to their homes in the east with great joy and excitement. Shepherds still watch their sheep at night – but they look at the night sky in a whole new way. Mary is holding a perfect little baby in her arms – pondering all these things.
And hundreds of years earlier the prophet Isaiah said all these things would happen. And – they DID happen. But now Christmas is over. The celebration has subsided. The gifts are opened and the Christmas wrappings litter the room. The feast has been consumed and dirty dishes are stacked high. It was a lot of work preparing for this celebration and the clean-up is not nearly so fun. It was wonderful giving gifts – but now bills have to be paid.
So what are we to think about all this? Is there something to learn? Is there something to take with us? I think there are a few things we need to be aware of.
First, I hope you are aware that you are loved. Think of all the trouble God went to – just because He loved you and me so much. Think of the planning involved. This was not a spur of the moment idea with God. Before the world began He planned all this. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit contemplated all aspects of creating man and realized that Jesus would have to come to earth this way – so He could grow up and be the perfect, pure sacrifice for our sins. God knew our frame. He knew what we were made of – or would be made of. He knew we would fall. He knew we would fail. He knew we needed help. He knew we needed a Savior. And Jesus willingly gave Himself for us. He willingly laid down His life for us. He died for our sins in our place. That’s love. Christmas is about how much God loves us. In the wake of Christmas this year, remind yourself of that. God loves you!
Secondly, Christmas shows us that God always keeps His word. The Scriptures told from the beginning that this was going to happen. Even Adam and Eve knew about it when they were driven from the garden. Prophets foretold this wonderful even for centuries. And finally, it arrived – just as they said it would. One thing Christmas reminds us of is that God keeps His word. What He says He will do – He will do. What He says will happen – WILL happen. The bible says,
“Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding. God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.” Hebrews 66-18
It is impossible for God to lie. He is not wired that way. He is absolutely pure and holy and true. We can trust Him. We can trust His word. Christmas is an example of God’s faithfulness and truthfulness. It happened in just the way the prophets said it would happen.
So what does that mean to us following Christmas? It means that we can trust Him for the things that are to come. Christmas happened just the way He said it would –and everything else will happen in just the way He promised. Even though the Priest and religious folks got it wrong about His first coming and His dying for their sins – it happened just as the Scripture said it would. That encourages me - because Jesus promised me eternal life. He promised me a home in heaven. He promised me and you glory and honor and awesome, unimaginable blessings. I believe it. I can trust Him. Christmas proves it.
The story is told of a businessman who, having something to do at his office, took his young son along with him. He asked the boy to wait on the steps while he went inside to do his work. Pretty soon he became so engrossed with his business that he forgot about his son waiting outside. Leaving the building by a different door, he went home alone. Several hours later the family sat down to dinner, and noticed the son was not present. His mother became anxious and wondered where he might be. Then the father remembered where he left his son. Hurrying back to his place of work, he found his son, tired and hungry, waiting as he had been instructed to do. “I knew that you would come, father,” he said, “you said you would.”
Thirdly, the King is coming again. Jesus said,
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
John 14:1-3
Jesus said He would come back for us. Jesus said He was preparing a place for us. Jesus asks us to trust Him. Do you? Do you believe Him? Listen to what the angel said when Jesus ascended into heaven, 40 days after He was crucified.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." Acts 1:8-11
The angels said Jesus was coming back. Do you believe them?
It’s been over 2000 years - and some of God’s children feel tired and hungry. We wonder why Jesus hasn’t come back yet. Maybe he’s forgotten us. Maybe he made other plans. If you feel like that little boy, take heart. He said he would come back—and he will. He never forgets his promises. He never breaks them.
A young woman was expecting her date. She was dressed-up and waiting patiently. But, by the time he was an hour late she figured she’d been stood-up. So, she took off her makeup, put on her pajamas, gathered all the junk food in the house and sat down to watch TV with the dog. As her favorite show was just coming on, the doorbell sounded. It was her date. He stared at her wide-eyed: I’m two hours late, and you’re still not ready?
God Has given us signs that Jesus is coming soon! Here are a few.
1. Jews return to the land of Israel. (Isaiah 11:12) fulfilled in 1948.
2. Israel will be a fruitful land. (Isaiah 27:6)
The #1 exporter of flowers is not Holland anymore but – Israel. Israel is one of the world largest exporters of fruit. From space Israel looks like a green blob. (green surrounded by brown desert!)
3. Increase in wickedness – (2Timothy 3:1-5)
4. Many family members and friends will betray Christians. (Mark 13:12-13)
5. Natural disasters / Men’s hearts will faint for fear. (Luke 21:25-28)
6. Evil / False teachings given the name of Christ. (1 Tim. 4:1-2)
7. Anti-Christ’s will come. (Father Divine –22,000,000 followers; Moon; David Koresh) (2 Thessalonians 2)
8. False Prophets - Spiritalism, Russelism, Native Religions, etc. (Mark 13:22)
9. Christians will Grow COLD (Matthew 24:12)
Do you believe Jesus is coming back – SOON? If you do – it will change how you live. Peter writes:
“So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.” 2 Peter 3:14
John says: “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.” 1 John 3:2-3
While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 1 Thessalonians 5:3-6 (NIV)
"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. Matthew 24:42-44 (NIV)
Peter says work really hard to be pure. John says to purify ourselves. And we are to be alert and on watch. We are to be ready.
I don’t know what 2009 will bring. I don’t know what the future holds – but I know who holds the future. And He is Good. He loves you! He is preparing a place for you. This year – let’s be encouraged. Let’s strive to be the pure and holy people God wants us to be. “Even so come, Lord Jesus”
