Wednesday, December 20, 2006
It was our grandson's two-year Christmas, and he was so much fun to watch. One day during the season, his mother unpacked the family Nativity Set for her and her boy to set up, and he loved it. I mean, they put up the manger, and Mary and Joseph, and the angels, and the shepherds. They put out everyone except the one figure they couldn't find - Baby Jesus. Well, our grandson was pretty concerned about this missing person, so Mommy told him that Daddy would look for Baby Jesus when he got home from the office. Hours after that, our grandson heard Daddy coming up the back steps. He ran to the door and greeted his father with an impassioned two-word question, "Where's Jesus?"
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Everything But Jesus."
That question from the heart of a two-year-old might be the question God is asking some of us as He looks at our lives this Christmas season, "Where's Jesus?" It's possible to be like our grandson was that day. Spiritually, you have everything except Jesus.
The danger of that deadly deficit is what God addresses in our word for today from the Word of God in 2 Corinthians 13:5. Now, the sobering truth is that these words were, and are, written to church folks - the folks involved in a lot of Christian things - maybe like you. Here's God's challenge: "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you - unless, of course, you fail the test?"
Apparently, you can be into Jesus, but not have Jesus in you! God says here that the deciding factor as to whether or not you belong to Him is whether or not "Christ Jesus is in you." Now He's in you only if there's been a time when you personally have flung open the door of your heart and welcomed Him in as your personal Savior from your personal sin. If you don't know you've done that, you probably haven't. It's like getting married. You know if you've made the commitment or not.
But you can miss the fact that you've missed Jesus when you've got everything else. You've got a Christian vocabulary, Christian beliefs, a Christian image, Christian fellowship, maybe a Christian environment or a Christian family. But it could be that there's never been that deciding transaction with Christ; that moment when you personally talk to Him and give yourself to Him with all the faith you've got. So as God looks at all you've got spiritually, I wonder if He's asking, "But where's Jesus?"
If you've consciously begun your relationship with Jesus Christ, He is in your life right now. He's clearly said, if you open the door, "I will come in", and it is settled. But if you've never really given yourself to Jesus, it's hard to admit it to yourself, but it's deadly not to. And be grateful. God has given you another opportunity; He has given you this opportunity to take the step that will finally, really bring Jesus into your life. Some day it will be your last opportunity.
Would you tell Him right now that you want to know Him for real; not just to know about Him. You want to know him for real beginning this very day; not just to have some beliefs about Him, but to belong to Him. It's time for you to tell Him that that's what you want; to admit to Him you realize there's never been a time you've given yourself to Him. But this is the day you open your heart to the man who died for you - who came to this earth to die to pay for your sin." He's alive because of Resurrection Day that first Easter, and He's available to you. He came that first Christmas, and now He's come where you are to come into your life. Tell Him, "Jesus, I'm Yours."
We would love to help you get started with Him and know you belong to Him. That's why we have our website, and I want to invite you to visit us there at yoursforlife.net. Or call for my little booklet called "Yours For Life" at 877-741-1200.
Today, please make sure that Jesus is in your heart.