The Mystery of the Disappearing Christ
Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
1Timothy 3:9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
1 Cor. 15:51a Behold, I shew you a mystery
Ilustration: Juan and the sand bags.
Juan comes to the border crossing on his bicycle and two bags of sand. The customs officer asks what is in the bags. Sand. The agent did not believe him and emptied the bags, even going as far as to have them analyzed. He lets him go with the sand. The same scene repeats itself every week for three years. Finally, one evening the officer meets Juan at a taco stand one evening. He tells him that he knows that Juan is smuggling something across the border, but he cannot figure it out. Off the record, can you tell me what you have been smuggling?
The answer- bicycles.
In Mexico, there are many manger arrangements set up in public and private places.
They contain the shepherds, the wise men, Joseph, Mary, angels, and a variety of animals. But they have an empty manger. That is, until December 24th, when the baby miraculously appears.
Mystery is from the greek word "musterion", which simply means to shut the mouth.
Most of the mysteries of the Bible have now been made known. Generations and dispensations have brought them to light. The rapture or appearing of Christ is still a mystery when it comes to the exact time of its happening.
Eventually, this mystery will be resolved. Don't get so worried about pre-, mid-, or post tribulation rapture. Just be sure that you are ready.
This sermon is concerned with the mystery of the diminishing Christ. Oh, I am not saying that he is less prominent or less involved in things today. Quite the opposite. But somehow He is becoming less revered and less exalted in this day and hour. This is the mystery that must be addressed.
I. The Mystery of Disappearing Church Members
Church should be central and a priority to a christian. I grew up in a time of three services per week, and revivals of two to three weeks in length.
When we pastored in Mexico, there were services of some kind where our church folk would attend, usually six nights each week.
Now days, it seems that most beleivers feel that they have done their duty if they can make it once or twice weekly. And then, if there is a family event, a holiday activity, a visitor from out of town, a runny nose, or about any other matter that comes up; it becomes all to convenient to skip church service. Christ is becoming diminished and even being dismissed in many events of our lives.
Since the days of COVID, many are fine with having church at home, when they could easily make it to services.
As church becomes more optional, Christ becomes less visible.
II. The Mystery of the Christless Christmas
Christmas season used to be all about the birth of Christ. Today, it is hard to find signs of Jesus in the holiday activities. Santa, the elf on the shelf, Frosty, and Rudolph are the prominent figures of the season.
What happened to "Jesus is the reason for the season"? It seems to just be a quaint old saying.
God forbid that Christmas Day or Christmas Eve fall on a church day. We have other places to go and places to visit. What a mystery for a people who claim that Jesus is the most important person in their life.
King Herod sought desperately to find Jesus in his day; albeit for all the wrong reasons. He wanted to get rid of Him and continue on his selfish program. In this present time, the idea is to disregard Jesus and concentrate on festivities. Oh what a mystery of celebrating a Christmas with Christ being only lipservice.
III. The Mystery of the Unused Bible
John tells us that in the beginning was the Word ,,,,,, and the Word was God.
Jesus is the living Word and He has given us his written Word.
What a mystery it is to think that people want to really know God, but they rarely take time to read and meditate the Bible. Many have even made it a habit of not having their Bible in the church services. We say that it is our bread and our strength, but only listen to what others say about it.
Acts 17:11
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
IV. The Mystery of the Misused/Unused Talent
God gives talents to his children. Some receive one and others are given multiple talents. There are christians who have not found their talent yet, and others who have not developed theirs. But just like the parable of the talents, one day all of us will give account of what God has entrusted to us.
Romans 14:12
So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
V. The Mystery of the Lost Burden
The burden of the Lord was to save the people of Ninevah, but it wasn't the burden of Jonah. He only went to save his skin.
Without a doubt, the Lord still has a burden for lost souls. Without a doubt, He delivers that burden to people like you and I.
The preacher preaches about it, we testify about it, the church agrees that we need to do something about it, but other matters occupy our time. Revivals motivate us for a few days. We promise ourselves that we will be more dilligent in witnessing and soul winning. Then it becomes easier to pray that someone else will go and do the task. The burden gets lost more often than not.
There will always be unsolved mysteries and there is never a shortage of unresolved christians.
God is not nervous, but He is concerned. To him there are no mysteries. His will is for his church to whole and holy.
Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
