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‘TWAS THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS Hebrews 13:8
INTRODUCTION: On FOXNEWS today, 1-2-05: "People are here with their loved
ones on holiday ... it's just the day after Christmas and the next minute their
loved ones are gone," said Jason Young, a British psychotherapist who set up a
makeshift clinic.
What a difference a day makes. Last Christmas we were on vacation in NC w/ my
in-laws, and had a wonderful time…the next day…Bam! Literally…a massive
earthquake hit Bam, Iran, killing 40,000 and turning off the Christmas lights
in a hurry! A sober spirit ensued.
Then last week, same vacation spot, another great time, then the biggest
earthquake in 40 years, a 9.0! Islands were removed like in the last days, and
Christmas was over in a hurry once again!
In Psalm 46:1-3, it is written, God is our refuge and strength, a very present
help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and
though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters
thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling
thereof. Selah.
Through this relevant message from the scriptures, we see a quick look of the
future distress that will surely come to earth. Knowing these things and
keeping an unwavering faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will surely save us from
dangerous waves of fears and hopelessness.
God has not neglected to give warnings and reminders to mankind through His
Word and through nature, which are proofs of His loving-kindness and His desire
to protect us from evil things.
Luke 21:11
And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences;
and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
Luke 21:25
And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and
upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves
roaring;
This may be talking about during the tribulation, but look what it says just a
little further down…
Luke 21:31-32
So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom
of God is nigh at hand. [32] Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not
pass away, till all be fulfilled.
Rev. 16:18-20
And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great
earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an
earthquake, and so great. [19] And the great city was divided into three parts,
and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance
before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his
wrath. [20] And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
As far as prophecy is concerned, when the Bible makes a point in several
passages regarding the relationship between earthquakes and the last days we
really need to pay attention. If you hadn't heard, that was the second major
earthquake (8.1 & 9.0 magnitude) within a few days. The first one didn't
receive near the publicity the tsunami did because it didn't occur in a
populated area.
We experienced a small taste of what will one day take place. News sources said
that islands were physically moved and Asia was altered permanently. But one
day an earthquake will strike that will be so devastating that every mountain
and island will be moved worldwide. Every person on the earth will cry out in
fear and say to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us, and hide us from the
face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the
great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” (Rev. 6:16-17)
God has given us “the signs of the times” right when He’s given us a new year,
a clean slate…and there’s much to do…we must work, for the night is coming!
Yes, Christmas has come and gone, but Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, and
today, and forever. And everyday can be Christmas for the Christian!
There always seems to be a let down following Christmas. For several weeks we
have all of the lights, the decorations, all of the reminders of Christmas and
then in a matter of just a few hours it is over. None of the decorations mean
anything now. Christmas is gone. Hardly anyone listens to Christmas music
following Christmas. All of the sales at the malls will be entitled, "After
Christmas Sales." In just a day or two all of the lights and decorations will
be removed until next year. To have a Christmas party now would be
anti-climatic. The tree will be removed and returned to the attic. The lights
have been placed back in the boxes along with the balls, and other decorations.
The array of Christmas cards have been placed in a box somewhere. The house no
longer has the appearance of Christmas. Christmas is over.
The sad thing is that there is no more realization as to whom Christ is after
Christmas as there was before Christmas. The image of a babe lying in a manger
has disappeared from the minds and hearts of the public. The purpose of His
birth is no more real than it was in October. The reality that man is a sinner
is no more of a concern today than it was before Christmas.
Christmas is gone and what did the celebration do for the world's population?
Mostly nothing in general.
I want to share six thoughts with you tonite concerning the "Day After
Christmas."
I. CHRISTMAS HAS COME AND GONE AND JESUS IS STILL IGNORED BY MOST OF THE WORLD
I think much of the ignoring is to give a disapproval of Jesus, but it matters
not how much He is ignored. He is still the reason for Christmas, and ignoring
Him will not remove Him.
He is the same always and forever. What He was yesterday, He is today. What He
is today, He will be tomorrow. What He is tomorrow, He will be forever.
Jesus Christ the same, yesterday, today, and forever.
As He lay in the manger yonder in Bethlehem's manger, He was God. He was God as
He grew. He was God as He grew through His teen years. He was God as He
approached adult hood. He was God when He began His earthly ministry. He was
God as He was arrested and falsely tried. He was God as He was falsely
convicted of no crime. He was God as they executed Him on the cross. He was God
while He lay in the tomb. He was God in that he raised Himself from the dead.
All of Deity was confined to that little baby in the manger. Oh what a
different world we would live in if every nation would recognize Jesus Christ.
II. CHRISTMAS HAS COME AND GONE AND THE UNITED STATES IS NO CLOSER TO CHRIST
THAN BEFORE
Jer. 8:20. "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved."
America needs the Christ of Bethlehem. America has rejected the authority of
Christ. No one seems to want to subject themselves to the confines of the
Bible. If He was the Saviour in the 40's and 50's, He is Saviour today.
The Jewish nation rejected Him. Why? Because they wanted a physical king to
meet their physical needs. America is looking for the same person or
institution, welfare. The average American seeks for a way to live and survive
without having to work. They want some magical method of having the everyday
necessities without the responsibility that accompanies such.
We have just witnessed millions of Christmas trees.
Millions of Christmas cards.
Millions of Christmas carols.
Millions of Christmas gifts.
Millions of times of mentioning His name.
Yet all of this did nothing to turn America back to God. Just the realization
of Christmas should bring us to Him. When we let Him take charge of our
spiritual matters, He meets the physical needs also. The absence of the meeting
of our physical needs in most cases is because we have ignored Jesus. John
15:7; John 14:13&14.
III. CHRISTMAS HAS COME AND GONE AND MANY CHURCH MEMBERS DO NOT KNOW HIM
Matt. 1:21, "...and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his
people from their sins."
Luke 2:11, "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which
is Christ the Lord."
We need not look any farther. He is here. He was born in a manger 2000 years
ago. He has been dwelling among us ever since. He has paid the sin debt. He has
redeemed the sinner. He has paid the ransom price. Salvation can be had. It is
free for all who will accept and believe. No one need be excluded. No one need
go to hell.
Yet while I speak, church members sit in churches all over this country lost
and without Christ. They walked an aisle one day. They gave their hand to a
preacher and the announcement was made that the individual had received Christ
as Saviour, when, in fact, no such thing was verified. Did they repent?
Believe? Receive? They were ushered through the baptismal waters. Their name
was placed on the membership roll of that church. They were given church
membership privileges, BUT THEY DO NOT KNOW THE LORD. THEIR SALVATION
EXPERIENCE WAS FALSE.
You say, "how do you know their salvation experience was not true?” Because
there has been no evidence of salvation. There has been no growth. There has
been no manifestation of the Spirit of God in their life. There has been no
change take place. They are the same person as before. II Cor. 5:17, "Therefore
if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new."
Salvation will present a new person. Salvation will bring a change in the life
of the individual. Salvation will produce the fruits of the Spirit, "Love, joy,
peace, longsuffering, temperance, etc.
Salvation must be as real to you as was your wedding. Many men have forgotten
the wedding date, but none forget the wedding.
Is your salvation real?
Can you put your finger on a time when Christ came into your life and forgave
you of your sins? If not then you have let Christmas come and go and still do
not know the Lord.
IV. CHRISTMAS HAS COME AND GONE AND JESUS IS STILL NOT LORD OF MANY LIVES
"Rev. 3:20, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice,
and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with
me."
This is talking about more than just an occasional Sunday Morning visit to
church.
It is talking about more than just an occasional time of prayer.
It is talking about more than just an occasional reading of the Bible.
This is talking more than just a once a year witness to someone.
This means that every breath you take, every thought you think, every blinking
of the eye, every beat of the heart is done because you want to please Jesus
Christ the Lord.
This means that the reason you go to work on Monday morning is that you might
have an opportunity to witness for Him.
This means the reason that you earn money is that you might be able to give
more to His cause and purpose.
Any other approach to Christ is to displease Him. He will not accept
half-heartedness. He will not accept a once in a while relationship. He must be
Lord of all or He won't be Lord at all.
V. CHRISTMAS HAS COME AND GONE AND MANY ARE STILL NOT READY FOR THE LORD TO
COME Titus 2:13.
We may be approaching the last year on planet earth for the Christians. Jesus
may very well come in the next 12 months. I will be very surprised and
disappointed if He doesn't come.
Yet many of our people are not ready to meet Him. Christmas time should have
caused each of us to prepare ourselves to meet Him in the air. However, for
most…Christmas has no effect on them at all.
Are you ready to meet the Lord? If you had a preview of His schedule and you
knew that He would come before April 1, 2005, what would you do differently
that you would normally do? [besides not filing taxes!] Whatever your answer to
that is, you should be doing all the time whether He comes this year or 10
years from now.
VI. CHRISTMAS HAS COME AND GONE AND STILL MANY OF OUR LOVED ONES ARE LOST
The very thought of some of our loved ones missing heaven should break our
heart. Maybe it's your son or your daughter, maybe your spouse, maybe your mom
or your dad. Every person that is not saved is condemned to judgment. John
3:18.
Let me challenge you to make a prayer list for loved ones to be saved. Our
prayer bulletin is a good place to begin. Pray for them every day. Fast once or
twice a week for them. Write them a letter and tell them you are praying for
them to get saved.
Next year may we NOT have to say again that "Christmas Has Come And Gone And We
Have Experienced No Change In Our Life."