The Miracle of the Moment - Galatians 4
Sermon series: the Miracle of Christmas
Scriptures: Galatians 4
Introduction
(look at watch until 60 seconds have passed).
Exactly one minute has passed. Isn't that amazing? My watch tracks time. It has a second hand that moves every second. Sixty seconds moves the big hand one step forward to mark the passing of a minute. Isn't it absolutely amazing how long one minute of silence seems, but how short one minute seems when you are doing something you enjoy?
Did you know that there are only (21) days until Christmas? That means there are approximately (504) hours until we celebrate the birth of Christ. That translates into approximately (30240) minutes left to get done all the things we need to do before Christmas arrives. There are presents to purchase and wrap, parties to attend, people to visit, and we only have (30239) minutes left. So, why did you just waste one precious moment sitting there doing nothing?
I want us to recognize not only the significance of one moment in time but also of the strategic nature of those moments. We would refer to the strategic nature of time as timing.
Have you ever stopped to consider how important timing is to everything that exists? Do you plant tomato plants in November? Outside? Do you paint the outside of your house in January? Does any sane person go swimming in the icy River in February? No? Why not? It's not the right time! There is a right time for such activities. I think we would all agree that December is not the best time to try starting a diet, right?
Think about the importance of timing in sports. If the timing is off, the quarterback won't connect with his receiver for a completion. It doesn't take a minute to throw off the timing in football. If the timing is off the basketball player will arrive at the spot before the ball or after the ball is already passed. Think about the importance of timing for our daily lives. If you have ever missed a bus because you arrived one minute after boarding you know the importance of timing. You are delayed at work, but because of the delay you missed a major accident on the interstate. If you are the parent of a preschooler, you know that if you turn your head for one minute, that child can be long gone and into trouble.
Does one minute make a difference? Just ask those who made it out of the Twin Towers minutes before they collapsed. One moment, one sixty-second interval of time, placed in just the right location can make all the difference in the world.
It is so easy to get all wrapped up in the activity of the season that we miss the miracle of the birth of Jesus Christ. This what the Christmas season is all about; let's spend some moments reflecting on the significance of Christ's birth.
Galatians 4:4 is an incredible verse. It says, "When the time came to completion, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law" (HCSB) Did you hear that? God's Word says, "When the time came . . . " At just the right time God sent His Son. That represents the miracle of the moment, just the right moment.
I. He came at the right moment
The Bible says, "When the time came to completion, God sent His Son . . . " But the reality is, most people missed the miracle of the moment. Most people did not recognize the significance of Christ's birth at the time. People were much to busy to pay any attention to the young girl giving birth to her first child out in a stable there in Bethlehem.
At just the right time in history Jesus was born. The coming of Christ into the world was not a matter of chance or coincidence. His coming was part of God's divine plan established before the foundation of the world. "Historians tell us that the Roman world was in great expectation, waiting for a deliverer, at the time Jesus was born. The old religions were dying. The old philosophies were empty and powerless to change men's lives. Strange new mystery religions were invading the empire. Religious bankruptcy and spiritual hunger were everywhere. God was preparing the world for the arrival of His Son." (Warren Wiersbe, Be Free, p. 90)
From an historical perspective, the Roman Empire had helped prepare the world for the birth of Jesus. The Romans had constructed roads that connected city to city, making travel easier. All roads ultimately led to Rome. The world was at peace under Roman rule. Roman laws protected the citizens and Roman soldiers guarded the peace. Thanks to both the Greek and Roman conquests, Latin and Greek were known across the empire making communication possible with many from all over the world. The Old Testament prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah were completed. At just the right time God sent His Son!
II. He provides at the right moment
Many people will be content to go through the motions. They will endure the busy activity of the season without ever experiencing the miracle of Christmas. But some this holiday season need nothing short of a miracle. The good news is that God comes to us at just the right time with just what we need for the moment.
Listen to these promises from God's Word to see His character reflected in these actions. Psalm 145:15 says, "All eyes look to You, and You give them their food at the proper time." Psalm 104:27 says, "All of them wait for You to give them their food at the right time." Deuteronomy 11:14: "I will provide rain for your land in the proper time, the autumn and spring rains, and you will harvest your grain, new wine, and oil." God knows exactly what you are going through. He knows the need. He knows the moment. His timing is always perfect.
God not only came at just the right time, He continues to come to us at just the right time. Just when we need Him most, He is there. Romans 5:6 says, "For while we were still helpless, at the appointed moment, Christ died for the ungodly." When do you need a miracle? When you have no more options, when you have no more resources, you are in a position to receive a miracle from God. He has promised to come at just the right time and provide just what you need for the moment. When we are utterly helpless, Christ still comes to us today.
III. He says now is the right moment
It seems we are always waiting for just the right time to do something. We are waiting for just the right time to make that commitment of our life to Christ as Savior and Lord. Maybe you are waiting for just the right time to make that commitment to Jesus Christ. Maybe you are waiting for just the right time to commit to a closer walk with Christ. Maybe you've been waiting for just the right time to give up that thing that you are holding onto, you know the one. The spirit has been talking to you about it.
Second Corinthians 6:2 says, 2 For he says,
“In the time of my favor I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.”
Now is the right time to make that commitment to Christ. Jesus said in Mark 1:15, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe in the good news!" Now is the right time to make that commitment to Christ and receive God's gift of salvation. Now is the time to Christ. Now is the time to recommit to your marriage and family. Now is the time to renew your commitment to walk in close fellowship with Christ. The right time is now to draw close to the Lord!
One moment in time can determine an eternal destiny. Right now is just such a moment. You don't have to live your life separated from God's love and blessing. Today is the right time to receive God's gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. If you have never made a commitment of your life to Jesus Christ receiving Him as your Lord and Savior, then I want to invite you to make that commitment today. This moment can change your earthly direction as well as your eternal destiny. Choose Jesus and you are choosing an abundant life on earth and an eternal life with Christ in heaven. It is just what you need for just this exact moment. That represents the miracle of Christmas.
Jesus was called Emanuel=God with us!
Will you recognize the moment for what it truly is - a miracle? Don't put off making that commitment you need to make today because now is the right time.
Prayer
If you want to make that commitment of your life to Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, then repeat this prayer quietly in your heart along with me as I pray.
Dear God, I don't want to live one more moment without you. I ask your forgiveness for my sins, for not recognizing your great love for me. I believe Jesus is your Son, who left heaven and came to earth to die on the cross for my sin. I believe He rose from the dead and is alive today. He came at just the right time just for me. Today, I want to receive Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Forgive my sin, cleanse me, and fill me with your Holy Spirit. I choose in this moment to receive the greatest gift ever given - the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Origins of the Christmas Tree
Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition as we now know it in the 16th century when devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes. Some built Christmas pyramids of wood and decorated them with evergreens and candles if wood was scarce. It is a widely held belief that Martin Luther, the 16th-century Protestant reformer, first added lighted candles to a tree. Walking toward his home one winter evening, composing a sermon, he was awed by the brilliance of stars twinkling amidst evergreens. To recapture the scene for his family, he erected a tree in the main room and wired its branches with lighted candles.
Most 19th-century Americans found Christmas trees an oddity. The first record of one being on display was in the 1830s by the German settlers of Pennsylvania, although trees had been a tradition in many German homes much earlier. The Pennsylvania German settlements had community trees as early as 1747. But, as late as the 1840s Christmas trees were seen as pagan symbols and not accepted by most Americans.
It is not surprising that, like many other festive Christmas customs, the tree was adopted so late in America. To the New England Puritans, Christmas was sacred. The pilgrims's second governor, William Bradford, wrote that he tried hard to stamp out "pagan mockery" of the observance, penalizing any frivolity. The influential Oliver Cromwell preached against "the heathen traditions" of Christmas carols, decorated trees, and any joyful expression that desecrated "that sacred event." In 1659, the General Court of Massachusetts enacted a law making any observance of December 25 (other than a church service) a penal offense; people were fined for hanging decorations. That stern solemnity continued until the 19th century, when the influx of German and Irish immigrants undermined the Puritan legacy.
In 1846, the popular royals, Queen Victoria and her German Prince, Albert, were sketched in the Illustrated London News standing with their children around a Christmas tree. Unlike the previous royal family, Victoria was very popular with her subjects, and what was done at court immediately became fashionable—not only in Britain, but with fashion-conscious East Coast American Society. The Christmas tree had arrived.
By the 1890s Christmas ornaments were arriving from Germany and Christmas tree popularity was on the rise around the U.S. It was noted that Europeans used small trees about four feet in height, while Americans liked their Christmas trees to reach from floor to ceiling.
The early 20th century saw Americans decorating their trees mainly with homemade ornaments, while the German-American sect continued to use apples, nuts, and marzipan cookies. Popcorn joined in after being dyed bright colors and interlaced with berries and nuts. Electricity brought about Christmas lights, making it possible for Christmas trees to glow for days on end. With this, Christmas trees began to appear in town squares across the country and having a Christmas tree in the home became an American tradition.
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
The Rockefeller Center tree is located at Rockefeller Center, west of Fifth Avenue from 47th through 51st Streets in New York City.
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree dates back to the Depression Era days. The tallest tree displayed at Rockefeller Center came in 1948 and was a Norway Spruce that measured in at 100 feet tall and hailed from Killingworth, Connecticut.
The first tree at Rockefeller Center was placed in 1931. It was a small unadorned tree placed by construction workers at the center of the construction site. Two years later, another tree was placed there, this time with lights. These days, the giant Rockefeller Center tree is laden with over 25,000 Christmas lights.
