Rev. David Holwick ZQ
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
December 19, 1999
Luke 2:8-20
THE MAN WHO MISSED CHRISTMAS
I. Are you in or out of Christmas?
A. An effective way to get out of Christmas.
Sometime back, MOODY MAGAZINE told the story of a guy named
George Mason.
His life was consumed by his work.
He lived alone, which only contributed to his work addiction.
Although he had few friends, each Christmas he received
several invitations to spend Christmas Day with a family.
He always declined the offers.
This particular Christmas was no exception.
On Christmas Eve, after all his employees left, George Mason
went into the office vault to get a little extra cash.
To his shock, the heavy door of the walk-in safe shut
behind him.
Desperately, he pounded on the steel door, but no one was
around to hear.
Even the custodian had left early to do some last-minute
Christmas shopping.
The lonely miser consoled himself, "I can make it alright
until morning."
But suddenly he recalled, the next day was Christmas.
No one would be coming in for TWO DAYS.
He panicked as he tried to figure out if there would be
sufficient oxygen.
Then he remembered: The vault had recently been installed and
was supposed to have a safety air-hole built in somewhere.
He felt around in the dark and eventually found the emergency
feature in a corner near the floor.
On the day after Christmas, early in the morning, the chief
cashier arrived.
As was his routine, he unlocked the vault but didn't bother
opening the door.
George Mason, exhausted, faint, hungry, and thirsty, exited
the human-size safe without being spotted.
And by the time he went home, showered, dressed, and returned
to the office, no one suspected a thing.
Life went on as usual - except for one thing: George Mason
had missed Christmas.
Can you believe it? He missed Christmas because the door to
the safe closed on him.
He's the only person I've ever heard of who had that happen.
But do you know what is more common?
People who "miss" Christmas year after year.
You understand what I mean by that, don't you?
People who buy and receive presents
and decorate their homes and trees
and make an appearance at the appropriate number of parties
and church programs,
but who miss the opportunity to savor the splendor and
contemplate the mystery of God's love made visible.
#5073
B. Lock the world out, not Christmas.
1) Shutting the door on the outside world so we can fully
experience the blessings of Christmas.
2) Get back to that child-like enthusiasm.
3) Discover the deeper meaning of the season.
National Public Radio commentator talked about Christmas
music this week.
He grew up in a anti-religious family.
There were no Christmas celebrations.
But due to school and other social gatherings, he
discovered the hymns and carols of Christmas.
The newer, hipper songs leave him cold:
"I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus."
"Grandma got run over by a reindeer."
It was through the sacred music this man found out
Christmas is truly special.
C. How can we really experience Christmas?
II. The essence of Christmas - encountering God.
A. Many people back then had a vague awareness something was up.
1) Only a handful experienced it first-hand.
2) Shepherds. The people in town they told. Later, Magi.
B. Same true today?
1) Vast numbers claim to believe in Jesus. [get numbers...]
According to statistician David Barrett, the world
population grew to 5.804 billion in 1996.
The church continues to grow rapidly:
Of the 1.782 billion church members, 1.302 billion are
"practising Christians."
These numbers have grown from 1.159 billion and 905 million
in 1970.
#5072
2) How many are really saved?
a) Most in this church? Only a handful?
b) Where do you put yourself?
1> Where does your pew neighbor put you?
C. Encountering God is not "politically correct."
1) George W. Bush mentioned his relationship with Jesus in
a recent debate.
Any one looking for a good indication of how secularized
America has become got a very good indication during
Monday night's Republican debate.
When asked to identify the thinker who had the greatest
effect on his life, George W. Bush named Jesus Christ.
-because, as he put it, "He has changed my heart."
The uproar was fast and furious.
You would have thought Bush had invoked the Marquis de
Sade, or perhaps Larry Flynt.
The New York Times found a Bishop to denounce Bush's
choice.
Superlawyer Alan Dershowitz went on television to complain
that Bush's answer was totally out of line.
The chorus of critics sang from the same hymnal.
Bush had spoken the forbidden name in American politics.
The single most important thing you can know about anyone
is the priorities he sets for himself in life.
What does he value most?
Knowing that a man or woman is a believer in Jesus Christ
tells you about his or her priorities.
It gives you the most crucial information about that
person.
#5074
2) Jesus can indeed change a person's heart.
a) He can change yours.
III. Shepherds have a close encounter with angels.
A. Angels are "hot" these days.
1) TV, jewelry, etc...
2) Often presented as sanitized spirituality, painless
salvation.
B. What Christians should know about angels. #3990
1) Real angels are scary creatures.
a) People feel like dying in their presence.
b) They have to say, "Fear not" all the time.
2) Angels are not dead humans with wings.
a) Contrary to TV shows (like Touched by an Angel) and
movies (like Angels in the Outfield), angels are not
dead humans who've earned (or are trying to earn)
their "wings."
b) Angels are a separate creation from humans. Ps 8:4-5
3) Don't call them for help -- or for anything.
a) Angels have a habit of showing up when they want to
show up (or at least when God wants them to).
b) But nowhere in the Bible do we find individuals
calling on angels for help or guidance.
c) On the other hand, we see tons of examples of God's
people going directly to him for the help they need.
C. Angels are never to take the place of God.
1) Most important, angels are not to be worshiped. Col 2:18
2) Their purpose is to deliver messages from God.
a) The word "angel" means "messenger."
b) In same way, "evangelism" means "good message."
3) Other things angels can do:
a) Angels are known for saving people from harm. Ps 91:11f
b) Carrying out God's wrath and judgment. Rev 16:1
c) Praising God. Rev 3:6-8
IV. Shepherds had to make a decision.
A. They had to decide on priorities - work or miracle?
1) There is a story about a little boy with a learning
disability.
He worked really hard to keep up with the others in his
classroom, but because of his unique challenges, he
kept falling behind.
As a result his backpack was crammed full with homework
every night.
There was no letup.
He no longer could play outside with his friends after
school.
By the time he had made a swipe at all his school work,
it was time for bed.
The parents consulted with the elementary school
guidance counselor and decided that their son needed
to be placed with a class of slower learners.
It quickly became apparent that the right decision had
been made.
The third grader got his childhood back, complete with
after-school play, positive self-esteem, and grades
that matched the front end of the alphabet.
After several weeks of asking his dad if they could
play together after dinner, he grew weary of the same
response:
"I'm sorry, buddy, I have a briefcase full of work I
have to do."
One day the boy simply said, "Well, Dad, can't they just
put you in a slower class too?"
#4126
2) Genuine spirituality has to have a claim on our time.
a) Not enough to be interested, or dabble.
b) Someone has tragically observed that our generation
worships our work,
works at our play, and
plays at our worship.
B. How to find God for yourself.
1) Spend special time meditating.
a) (light candle in church, or quiet room)
2) Commit to studying one spiritual issue in depth.
a) Angels, voice of God, meditation.
3) Read through a book of the Bible this month.
a) Isaiah, John.
4) Commit to doing a ministry that's out of the ordinary.
a) Volunteer at Dover Soup Kitchen, or Morristown Mission.
b) Adopt a family or individual and serve them for a month.
c) Write to a missionary and ask one thing you can do
for them.
V. Prepare to meet your God.
A. God still speaks to people.
1) Will you be listening?
B. Look for the wonder.
1) Like George Mason, shut out the static, lock in the spirit.
[borrows some illustrations, key ideasand title from sermon by Rev. Greg Asimakoupoulos, in this archive]
