Intro: of all the people that missed a marketing opportunity for Christmas, it was the inn keeper who told Joseph and Mary there was no room at his inn. Can you imagine turning down the opportunity of God’s Son being born at your inn. He could have put on his sign, stay at the room where God was born, or had as a motto, if God chose our place so should you. But, he blew it, he missed the mark, and Jesus was born in a manger. But this man isn’t the only one who has missed the opportunity of Christmas, because for so many, there is still no room.
There is still no room
Luke 2:7
Background: this is an amazing story because we know how important Jesus Christ is in the world. To the innkeeper he was no big deal, but to us that know Him, this was his opportunity to open his inn to God. We all know there probably was room, there’s always room.
Zig Ziglar says his brother gets into many hotels that have no vacancy signs lit by saying, if the President needed a room here, you mean there isn’t a room for him. If they say, well for him we would find a room. Ziglar’s brother says, I happen to know he’s not coming tonight, so I’ll take his room.
There’s always room, it is just that many have shut their hearts to God, just like the inn keeper long ago.
Here’s the reasons there is still no room.
I. We Are Way Too Busy—during this time of year this owner of the inn was probably very busy. It was one of the high travel days of the year, and he was probably so busy doing so many things that he missed this opportunity in his life. That is the story of all of our lives, we can get so busy that there is still no room.
a. for most people we live very busy lives. To be honest, it is hard to give the Master any time on our master calendar. People are seldom still and know that He is God.
b. Something funny but tragic is that with all the modern conveniences it was stated back in the 60’s and 70’s that there would be a time when Americans would have a 20 hour work week because of all the time that would be saved. It is just the opposite, now for many 60 hour weeks are the norm and even more.
c. Even Herod said, you go and find him, then come and get me, I’ll then come and worship. He was basically saying, I am too busy to come right now, when you find him, come and get me.
Sometimes we get so busy we forget the most important reason we are here is to worship the Lord, to serve Jesus Christ.
Ill) Yogi Berra was famous for trying to rattle hitters when they came to the plate. Hank Aaron came up and Yogi told him he was holding the bat wrong. Said, you need to hold it where you can see the trademark. Hank Aaron hit the first pitch over the left field wall and when he crossed the plate he told Yogi, I don’t come up here to read. We need to make sure we remember what we are here for.
II. We Have Too Many Choices—there is still no room for Jesus today because in this world there are too many choices. In India they have millions of named Gods, and that is the problem in the world today, why have one God when you can have more. So it isn’t that people don’t want Jesus, there are just too many other Gods already occupying their heart.
Ill) a preacher ran into a deacon after church and said, I heard you
Were at a ball game. The deacon said, it’s a lie preacher and
Here are the fish to prove it.
a. Jesus has become secondary to people’s dreams and goals in life. It is like Jesus might get in the way of my success if I choose to serve him.
b. Why be exclusive, if I let Jesus in then all the other God’s must go, and I’m not ready to kick all the other God’s in my life out right now.
c. People still put up no vacancy signs for Jesus. You can keep the door shut even when you hear him knocking at the door.
III. We don’t have enough faith—another reason there is still no room for Jesus is that we are just too smart for our own good. By grace are ye saved through faith. It takes faith to let Jesus in, and for many faith is just something that goes against the flow.
a. Jesus, or the plan of salvation is just too simple. To the Greek it was foolishness, to the Jew a stumblingblock. For many, accepting the cross, believing that Jesus is the Son of God just keeps the doors shut. It seems too easy.
Ill) professor gives test that he answers all the questions. He says, if you sign your name you will get an A even though you did nothing to earn it. I will have done it all for you. If you sign your name you will experience grace.
b. Works religions are thriving—religions of works are thriving all over the world. Any religion where you can work your way to heaven seems to be doing fine. For many, God doing for them what they couldn’t do for themselves seems too simple.
c. Jesus in John chapter three says to Nicodemus, you being a teacher in Israel don’t understand these things. It was amazing, a student of the laws of God couldn’t conceive the plan of god in being born again. Today, with all our advances, faith still is foolishness and a stumblingblock for many in our world.
Ill) a young prince went bird hunting for the first time and shot up 4 boxes of shells without hitting a single bird. He was so discouraged and told the guide, I am a terrible shot, but the guide said, no sir, you are a great shot but today God was very merciful to the birds. I like someone who can see God in every situation of life.
IV. There will be room available tomorrow—I am sure this innkeeper
Gave the standard reply, there will be some room tomorrow. This is the biggest reason why there is still no room for Jesus in our world today. People won’t make the decision for Christ, they are constantly saying someday, sometime, I will get it right.
a. there is no record in scripture that Jesus ever used this inn to lodge in during his lifetime. The sad fact is this: for the innkeeper this was his chance, this was his shot. Don’t say like some have, I am too young, I have my life to live, I’m saving God for my later years.
b. Tomorrow’s aren’t guaranteed—I am sure most people who knew the 8 year old boy killed by the plane crashing into their car would have thought he had a long life ahead of him. But his tomorrow never arrived. So, today is the best day for Christ, today is the best time to give him room.
Close: For Jesus to have room today, you have to open your heart, you
Have to step out in faith, you have to make the decision.
Getting saved isn’t something you do on accident, it is
Something that is done on purpose.
Ill) an insurance agent noticed that a cowboy that was one of
His clients had not filed a claim in many years. He stopped by
And commended him on having no accidents. He said, it was
Amazing that a cowboy hadn’t been injured. The cowboy said, I
Had a few injuries. One time a bull ran over me, another time a
Horse kicked me, and I was bitten by a rattlesnake. The agent
Asked why he didn’t report those accidents. The cowboy said,
Because they all did it on purpose.
Today, make room, accept Christ, and do it on purpose.
