This
came from oneplace.com
Jesus
on the Outside
by: Greg Laurie
Imagine,
for a moment, that your friends decided to throw you a big birthday party. You
knew who would be coming to your party, and where it would be. But when you
arrive, you find the music so loud and your friends having such a good time
that they can't hear or see you outside. As you press your face up against the
glass, you see pictures of yourself on the tables. You overhear people telling
stories about you. Everyone is having a great time while you're standing
outside, pounding on the door. You can't get into your own birthday party!
As
ridiculous as this may seem, it portrays our Christmas of today: Jesus is
outside, trying to get in. I once read a true and tragic story about a wealthy
couple in Boston who had a christening party for their new baby. They invited
all of their friends and family to their magnificent home to celebrate the
birth of their new child. About 30 minutes into the party, they made a tragic
discovery. There was a large bedroom where everyone was placing their coats on
the bed. Boston is very cold, and so everyone had an overcoat. They had piled
their coats high on the bed, and they didn't realize until later that the
little baby was lying underneath the coats. The baby had suffocated and died.
Sadly,
Christmas can be that way as well. We'll set up our nativity sets, sing a few
Christmas carols, do a little shopping, and decorate the tree. We can become
involved in all kinds of activities and forget all about Jesus. In the
busyness of the celebration, He is altogether forgotten. Yet His birth is so
historically important that we divide human history by it: B.C. and A.D. His
birth changed the world. Not only did His birth change the world; so did His
death. That little baby grew into a man who went to a cross. Spikes were
driven through His hands and feet. He shed His blood for the sin of all
humanity. Then three days later, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, rose again from
the dead. He is alive, and He is here, wanting to come into our lives. But we
can miss Him.
So
many miss Christmas because they allow other things to take His place. It
might be money. It might be a career. It might be fame or pleasure or
popularity. It might even be religion. A lot of us think Jesus will just stand
on the doorstep of our lives and knock forever. Some may say, "Keep
knocking. I'll get to you later." But if there was someone standing at
your door, wanting to be invited into your home, don't you think that response
would be a little offensive?
This
is what we fail to understand. We think the gift of eternal life is something
we can get around to when we're in the right mood—when we feel like it. But
until then, we reject it and go on. Don't you realize that by refusing to say
"yes" to Jesus, you're saying "no" to Him? Jesus is
knocking. He wants you to open that door. He offers the gift of eternal life
to you.
But
you must reach out, take that gift, say "thank you," and enjoy it,
because it's the only gift that keeps on giving. It will never go out of
style. It will never get old. You'll never have to buy batteries for it.
God
offers that gift of eternal life to you. Will you miss it, or will you take
it? If you take this gift, it will be the most blessed Christmas you have ever
experienced. Forget all the nonsense going on outside of your walls right
now—all the noise, the hustle and bustle, the pressure, and the parties.
Instead, think about that baby who was born in a stable in Bethlehem one cold
night some 2,000 years ago. That baby grew into a man who died on the cross
and rose again. He stands at the door and knocks. Will you let Him in? Don't
miss Christmas this year. Don't miss Jesus this year. Make time for Him. Open
the door and let Him in.
Monday,
November 26, 2001