Cut! Cut! This story is missing something! The script is not going the way it was written. First, it was written with a God-given ability for all players in the script to always love the Lord, follow his precepts for godly living. Let’s review, the original script looked like this:
• At first, there was no set, just the author.
• The author began putting together a fascinating set, one inspired by His desire to create a perfect, perfect story.
• He, as the master lighting technician, engineered the most incredible stage lighting. Rhythmically, the light changes from pitch black to a brilliant light.
• When you look at this, while sitting on the front row, you see the setting sun reflecting off the water and casting beautiful colors throughout the clouds.
• The next moment, with a special effect unique to the author and director, land begins to push up through the water.
• During those times the set become pitch black, there is an expanse of twinkling lights in a panoramic display. Wonderful things begin to happen with the setting and rising of the Sun. Suddenly, flowers bloom, the heat warms the water and land, the leaves on the trees change from green to a beautiful array of colors. Then miraculously the leaves begin to fall from the trees, except for those that are forever green, and there is a hush as white stuff, beautiful stuff, stuff that calms the soul, begins to cover the ground.
• As if it was magic, the author has placed some fascinating living creatures in the water. Each of these are very distinct; some with beautiful colors, others with very interesting and particular features.
• When it appears the set is complete, the air fills with chirping and singing. In appearance, they look like flying seraphim. The number of these unique species are numberless. They spend the day as if they have no fear, no worry, flying skyward as if they will disappear into the author’s innermost set, one that has yet given to the stars of the story. Can you hear them? It sounds like they are singing, Holy, holy, holy…. They appear as if they are praising and worshiping God for who he was, is doing, and what he continues to do. It is like he has a magic pen and living paper. "Day and night, they never stop saying: "'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." Revelation 4:8
• And, aw! From incredibly small to huge in posture and size the set is suddenly full of moving animals. Some crawl. Some jump, as though they are filled with joy. Others run so fast they appear to slide off the set. The large ones make a resounding sound as their huge feet traverse the land. There are some with incredible long necks, standing tall and proud as they reach high into the trees, looking skyward as if they are peering into the authors script.
• Then when it appears the set can not hold anything else, the author introduces another feature. Human beings! Human beings created in his image!
• In a very reverent manner, the author sits on his throne, and breathes life into his perfect set. He is reflecting upon what would be known as a masterpiece, one where none other would match. Each entity would have a starring role in his unfolding drama. Resting on this day, creatures distinctly different, serve and worship him as they sing. Spectacular background music soothes the soul. https://youtu.be/MLS6qZt9WLQ
• The author knows exactly how he wants the script to develop. The next scene, cast in one of the most serene settings imaginable, the stars walk onto the stage. The author has given each freedom to make decisions. The decisions they made began an incredible story for all to follow. There are times when it looks like the author should crumble up the script and start over. Yet, he doesn’t. He continues to whisper into the stars decisions they can make to restore the authors intent.
• As the story develops, it is filled with conflict, drama, grief, disappointment, rebellion, devastation, slavery, characters wandering around aimlessly attempting to find purpose and meaning.
• In a very special way, the author creates another scene. It is not the garden, like the one the author set for the first stars; the place where human players first stepped into the story. It was close; however, it has the picture of a place where, in a way, the stars of the script could reenter the design of the original script.
• Yet, the stars begin to look more like antagonists, those the author wanted to find great joy in. Yet, when all looks hopeless, the author interjects
• Even those who have been called by the author’s name, a very special privilege, have turned the scene into something that resembles a fundamentalist fiasco. There is greed, incest, abuse of people and drugs, and forms of evilness. Yet, they claim they are going by the original manuscript. All the author can do is weep, realizing how far from his original intent the story has developed.
Black Elk, second cousin of Crazy Horse who fought with him in the Battle of Little Bighorn, wrote the following while reflecting upon the impact of massacre of his people, the Lakota Indians.
“I did not know then how much was ended. When I look back now from this high hill of my old age, I can still see the butchered women and children lying heaped and scattered all along the crooked gulch as plain as when I saw them with eyes still young. And I can see that something else died there in the bloody mud, and was buried in the blizzard. A people's dream died there. It was a beautiful dream...”
God could look at the dream he had for his people and say, it is over, and I will let you become extinct. Yet, he sent himself to us in the form of a baby. Very few knew what he was doing…
Fortunately, the story doesn’t end there. The author employs what is called virtual reality. It is at the lowest point we step into the story, watching it develop. As with Adam and Eve, we have failed to realize the people God intended. As the Jews had done in the desert, we have aimlessly gone through life. The author sat on a hillside, looking over all of humanity. While sitting there with his unfinished manuscript in His hand, he weeps.
THE SHEPHERDS
Suddenly, the camera pans to another set. On this set there are teenage boys and girls watching over the flocks of sheep entrusted to the them. As they mix and mingle, sharing their dreams for the future. They have young, tender, moldable hearts. They are filled with an imaginative spirit. The author devotes his full attention to them, believing they will make decisions that return the script to its intended purpose. He decides to add a little excitement as they continue to watch over their flock.
Wow! Straight from the heavens above, the air is filled with the flurry of twinkling brightness. This time it is not birds. They are angelic beings! Their awesomeness causes the hearts of the shepherds to tremble with reverent fear. Out on the hillside, it is like they have stepped into the inner chambers of the temple. The pureness of a brilliant light illumined the hills as far as they could see. The majesty of their presence was overwhelming. An angel, in a voice that elicited fear, truth and passion, said,
Luke 2:8-20 (MSG)
An Event for Everyone
8-12 There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”
13-14 At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises:
Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.
15-18 As the angel choir withdrew into heaven…
Inspector Gadget wants to know what happened. He finds a lamb hiding behind a bush. He was scared, and his wool looked like 2 years of growth standing straight out.
In “lamish” the lamb describes what the experience was like. When asked what the young people did after they got together on the hillside, he tells you.
The sheepherders talked it over. Then I heard some of them say “Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” And, they left, running! They ran faster than the day Shaun the Sheep took off running and we were all following him. We didn’t know where he was going, we just followed him. The shepherds were confident they knew where they were going and why.
Questions… Did you know where they were going? What were they hoping to see when they got to where they were going? Well,
They found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.
I would have looked like this…
19-20 Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself.
The author of the story places the inspiration of the part deep into the sensory memory of Mary. For her it is more than a role, she senses the realness of her place in the story. She tells Joseph that she has never known a time like this, as more and more experiences are happening. Each builds confidence that God was doing something very special. Joseph can tell Mary has a divine expression upon her face, one that he believes will guide her throughout her life. Joseph pulls Mary near to his heart and the two are bonded together as soul mates, with the sense the author of the story is embracing them.
The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they’d been told!
As they continued to care for the flock entrusted to them, little did they know that tending, caring for the folk would become a powerful image the author would weaver into the story.
THE WISE MEN
About the time you don’t believe the story can get even more exciting, after an intermission for all to ponder the meaning of the story, the curtains open with a new setting.
In the distance, faintly at first, we hear mingled voices. As the voices draw closer, we see they come from a caravan of camels. As they draw closer, their eyes are affixed to a star that guides them onto the stage.
They look road weary but determined. They are singing, singing a song that no man had ever heard.
We Three Kings of Orient are,
Bearing gifts we traverse afar,
Field and fountain,
Moor and mountain,
Following yonder Star.
Refrain:
O Star of Wonder, Star of Night,
Star with Royal Beauty bright,
Westward leading,
Still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy perfect Light.
Born a KING on Bethlehem plain,
GOLD I bring to crown Him again,
King for ever,
Ceasing never
Over us all to reign.
FRANKINCENSE to offer have I,
Incense owns a Deity nigh:
Prayer and praising
All men raising,
Worship Him GOD on High.
MYRRH is mine; its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom;—
Sorrowing, sighing,
Bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb.
Refrain
Glorious now behold Him arise,
KING, and GOD, and SACRIFICE;
Heav'n sings Hallelujah:
Hallelujah the earth replies.
Who are these guys? Are they angels in disguise? Inspector Gadget has been spying on them as they have pushed westward. He learns that they are not earthly kings; however, they are stars in the story.
Who are they?
The term refers to the Persian priestly caste of Zoroastrianism.[11] As part of their religion, these priests paid particular attention to the stars and gained an international reputation for astrology, which was at that time highly regarded as a science. Their religious practices and use of astrology caused derivatives of the term Magi to be applied to the occult in general and led to the English term magic, although Zoroastrianism was in fact strongly opposed to sorcery.
Deep in their psychic there has been an insatiable desire for something they have never found. The hearts had always been open for truth, truth from divine perspective. They had a genuine belief there was a supernatural force, a deity, causing them to be open to experience a creative desire.
They don’t go to the Temple. They go to a very humble house. Just outside of this house is an enclosed area. It is a place where guest would stay when there was no place inside. This was also a place that animals could find shelter.
As they enter, Mary and Joseph look at them inquisitively, wanting to know who they are and why they are there. They notice they are sitting down several things in front of the manger.
There is a thunderous sound of applause! Inside that manger, in the innerness of the tiny baby, there is a huge heart, a heart of love. The author has placed his character, himself, in that manger. When the wise man looks at the baby, connecting with the spirit of the little baby, they were able to embrace the story in a way few would see. Many would feel threatened by this child as he would grow up. Many would fail to see what this little child brings to the story.
The Magi do something no Jewish leader ever dreamed of doing. The Magi are described as "falling down", "kneeling" or "bowing" in the worship of Jesus. This gesture, together with Luke's birth narrative, had an important effect on Christian religious practices. They were indicative of great respect, and typically used when venerating a king.
Suddenly, attention is drawn to one of the antagonists. The shepherds and the Magi tapped into the intended story line. Herod, one of the antagonist, chose to interact with the story in a different way. He attempted to take control of the story and bring it to an unintended finale. He tried to trick the Magi, so he could kill the Christ child. Why? What did he sense? Did the master antagonist, the one continually lurking around the story, fill him with darkness? Was there an evil force imposed by the antagonist on the master plan? Is that why Herod ordered the death of precious little children?
Herod’s spirit was blinded by the master antagonist, that creature with horns that you realize has been slipping in and out of each set. Herod couldn’t see what the teenage shepherds saw. He wasn’t able to see the magic of the star the Magi followed. His cold and calloused heart would dictate his decisions. His temperament was opposite of the temperament instilled into the Star of the story.
The Bethlehem Star…. As you and I set there in the audience, in deep contemplation, the author of the story motions for us to step on the stage. He hands us what looks like a script for us to follow. When we look at it, we see our name followed by dot, dot, dot. Everyone is watching and waiting to see what we will do.
What do we do with the script? We don’t want to let our part end like Herod. We don’t want to sit down on the stage and let everyone around us assume a key role in the story. We know the author knows the end of the story. Will we seek an experience like the shepherds and Magi?
We realize that we should decide. We have an impression that we need divine inspiratio— a need for a supernatural moment where we desire to experience a creative desire. We stand, peering into the future. We hear, in unison, the encouragement of the stars of the story we have been observing.
“Let’s Go Let’s Go” https://youtu.be/-Od6-yPyTCc
In December 1939, England was at war. Germany had become a fascist totalitarian state that had spread terror across Europe. Fear and uncertainty gripped the hearts of people. Uncertainty, much like you experience as you seek to take center stage, plagued the people. There is the scene where King George VI, England’s reigning monarch, took center stage. It was a tradition for the king to address the nation on a BBC radio broadcast on Christmas Day, and, in the uncertain last days of 1939, the king spoke words of peace to calm his nation. He reminded them of the only true King, the One who can provide true peace and real rest in such troubled times. As King George concluded his message of encouragement, he read the preamble of a poem that had been brought to his attention by his young daughter, Princess Elizabeth.
Minnie Louise Haskins
THE GATE OF THE YEAR
‘God Knows'
And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”
And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”
So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night.
And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.
So heart be still:
What need our little life
Our human life to know,
If God hath comprehension?
In all the dizzy strife
Of things both high and low,
God hideth His intention.
God knows. His will
Is best. The stretch of years
Which wind ahead, so dim
To our imperfect vision,
Are clear to God. Our fears
Are premature; In Him,
All time hath full provision.
Then rest: until
God moves to lift the veil
From our impatient eyes,
When, as the sweeter features
Of Life’s stern face we hail,
Fair beyond all surmise
God’s thought around His creatures
Our mind shall fill.[3]
What does the rest of the script say? It is time for you to step out on the stage! What are you writing?
4-10 The earlier revelation was intended simply to get us ready for the Messiah, who then puts everything right for those who trust him to do it. Moses wrote that anyone who insists on using the law code to live right before God soon discovers it’s not so easy—every detail of life regulated by fine print! But trusting God to shape the right living in us is a different story—no precarious climb up to heaven to recruit the Messiah, no dangerous descent into hell to rescue the Messiah. So what exactly was Moses saying?
The word that saves is right here,
as near as the tongue in your mouth,
as close as the heart in your chest.
It’s the word of faith that welcomes God to go to work and set things right for us. This is the core of our preaching. Say the welcoming word to God—“Jesus is my Master”—embracing, body and soul, God’s work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. That’s it. You’re not “doing” anything; you’re simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you. That’s salvation. With your whole being you embrace God setting things right, and then you say it, right out loud: “God has set everything right between him and me!”
