Good afternoon and welcome to the Panhandle, I’m glad you dropped by. If it you will allow me we are going to take a break from the 49 General Commands of Christ Jesus and look at His birth. I am starting with a series that Greg Fine did back in 2006 or 2007. I know some say Christ Jesus wasn’t born on December 25th and that’s okay, as for me and my house the date doesn’t matter, just the event. And so did you know that there are only 15 days until Christmas? That means there are approximately 360 hours until we celebrate the birthday of Christ. That translates into approximately 21,600 minutes left to get done all the things we need to do before Christmas arrives. There are presents to purchase and wrap, parties to attend, people to visit and we only have 21,600 minutes left to get everything done that needs to be done. Given that we only have 21,600 minutes left before Christmas, thank you for spending some of them here today.
As we look at Christmas and all that it brings, I want us to recognize the significance of one moment. I want us to recognize not only the significance of one moment in time but also of the strategic nature of those moments. You might refer to the strategic nature of time as timing. Have you ever stopped to consider how important timing is to everything that exists? Do you normally plant tomato plants outdoors in November? Do you normally paint the outside of your house in January? Do you normally go swimming in the pond during February? Unless you live some place warm the answer is usually, no. Why not? Because it’s not the right time. I think we would all agree that November and December are not the best time to try and start a diet, right?
Think about the importance of timing in sports. If the timing is off, the quarterback won’t connect with his receiver for a completion. It doesn’t take a minute to throw off the timing in football. If the timing is off the basketball player will arrive at the spot before the ball or after the ball is already passed. Now think about the importance of timing for our daily lives. If you have ever missed a flight because you arrived one minute after boarding you know the importance of timing.
I’ve told this story before, my sister and ex-brother-in-law had a 9:00 a.m. appointment at the Merrow building on April 19,1995. But my niece threw up all over my sister so she had to change her shirt and clean up the mess. Because of my niece they had missed their appointment and certain death, everyone in the office they were going to was killed. As parents or grandparents of preschoolers, you know that if you turn your head for one minute, that preschooler can be long gone and into trouble. Does one minute make a difference? Just ask those who made it out of the Twin Towers minutes before they collapsed. One moment, one sixty-second interval of time, placed in just the right location can make all the difference in the world.
Our theme for this years Christmas series is called, Experience the Miracle of Christmas. It is so easy to get all wrapped up in the activity of the season that we miss the miracle of Christmas. This Christmas season, let’s spend some time reflecting upon the significance of Christ Jesus’ birth, listen to Galatians 4:4-5 ~ But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Did you hear that? God’s Word says, “But when the fullness of the time came…” At just the right time God sent His Son. That represents the Miracle of the Moment.
I’m a movie guy and one of my favorite Christmas movies is the 1947 version of “Miracle on 34th Street.” It is a wonderful, old movie about an old man named Kris Kringle who believes he is Santa Clause and his attempt to get others to believe in him as well. If you have ever watched that movie you’ll know the scene I describing. Near the beginning of the movie Kris is at the starting point of the parade and sees the Macy’s Santa having trouble with his whip. Kris goes up to him to try and instruct him on how to use the whip and well one thing leads to another and Kris becomes the Macy’s Day Parade Santa.
Was it just by chance or coincidence that Kris Kringle was there at the parade that day? No! That represents the miracle of the moment, the miracle of 34th Street. At just the right time, Kris Kringle showed up at the parade and rescued not only the parade, but the jobs of Ms. Walker and countless others. Ms. Walker failed to recognize the miracle of the moment. She failed to realize the significance of hiring Kris Kringle to be the store Santa at the time.
The Bible says, “But when the fullness of the time came…” But the reality is, most people missed the miracle of the moment. Most people did not recognize the significance of Christ Jesus’ birth at the time. There was too much activity, people were much to busy to pay any attention to the young girl giving birth to her first child in a stable there in Bethlehem. They missed the moment.
1. Christ Jesus Came At The Right Time
At just the right time in history Christ Jesus was born. The coming of Christ Jesus into the world was not a matter of chance or coincidence. His coming was part of God’s divine plan established before the foundation of the world.
“Historians tell us that the Roman world was in great expectation, waiting for a deliverer, at the time Jesus was born. The old religions were dying; the old philosophies were empty and powerless to change men’s lives. Strange new mystery religions were invading the empire. Religious bankruptcy and spiritual hunger were everywhere. God was preparing the world for the arrival of His Son.” (Warren Wiersbe, Be Free, p. 90)
From a historical perspective, the Roman Empire had helped prepare the world for the birth of Christ Jesus. The Romans had constructed roads that connected city to city making travel easier and all roads ultimately led to Rome. The world was at peace under Roman rule. Roman laws protected the citizens and Roman soldiers guarded the peace. Thanks to both the Greek and Roman conquests, Latin and Greek were known across the empire making communication possible with many from all over the world. The Old Testament prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah were completed. At just the right time God sent His Son! And He sent Him for you.
So many times we talk about Christ Jesus in the past, but you want to hear some great news? Christ Jesus still comes to us today.
2. Christ Jesus Still Comes To Us Today
The miracle of Christmas is the miracle of the moment – at just the right time God sent His Son into the world. The miracle of Christmas is not limited to the fact that God came at just the right time, but that He still comes today. Think about this: God comes to us at just the right time with just what we need for the moment! Many people will be content to go through the motions, they will endure the busy activity of the season without ever experiencing the miracle of Christmas.
The good news then and the good news today is that God comes to us at just the right time with just what we need for the moment. Psalm 145:15 says, “The eyes of all look to You, And You give them their food in due time.” And Deuteronomy 11:14 says, “that He will give the rain for your land in its season, the early and late rain, that you may gather in your grain and your new wine and your oil.”
God knows exactly what you are going through and He knows exactly what you need. When the time is right He will come to you and provide what you need for that moment. God’s timing is always perfect. Why not experience God’s timing this morning by inviting Christ Jesus into your life as Lord and Saviour?
Part of the miracle of Christmas is the miracle of the moment. And part of that miracle is that Christ Jesus comes when we need Him most.
3. Christ Jesus Comes When We Need Him The Most
Christ Jesus not only came at just the right time, He continues to come to us at just the right time. Just when we need Him most, Christ Jesus is there. “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6).
When do you usually need a miracle? Most of the time it is when you are utterly helpless, when you have come to the end of your rope, when you have no more options and no more resources. That seems to be the time when you can finally admit that you can’t do (what ever on your own). Now, like the Children of Israel with a sea in front of them and the might of the Egyptian army behind them; you are in a position to receive a miracle from God.
God has promised to come at just the right time and provide just what we need for the moment. When we are utterly helpless and even when we aren’t, Christ Jesus still comes to us today when we call on Him.
One single moment, one sixty-second span of time can make all the difference in eternity. Today is the right time to receive God’s gift of salvation through Christ Jesus. If you have never committed your life to Christ Jesus, receiving Him as your Lord and Savior, then I want to invite you to make that commitment today.
It seems we are always waiting for just the right time to do something. We are waiting for just the right time to give our life to Christ Jesus as Saviour and Lord. Maybe you are waiting for just the right time to make that commitment to church membership. Maybe you are waiting for just the right time to commit to a closer walk with Christ Jesus. “At the right time I heard your prayers. On the day of salvation I helped you. I tell you that the right time is now, and the day of salvation is now.” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Now is the right time for you. Now is the right time to make that commitment to Christ Jesus. He said in Mark 1:15, “The right time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Change your hearts and lives and believe the Good News!” Now is the right time change your earthly direction as well as your eternal destiny. Now is the right time to make that commitment to Christ Jesus and receive God’s gift of salvation. Now is the time to join the church. Now is the time to renew your commitment to walk in close fellowship with Christ Jesus. The right time is now to draw close to the Lord!
This is the miracle of Christmas – that God comes to us at just the right time with just what we need. Will you recognize the moment for what it truly is-a miracle? Don’t put off making the commitment you need to make today because now is the right time.
Merry Christmas and may our Lord and Saviour, Christ Jesus bless you and yours.
Bible Surfer
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