Sermon Illustrations

A Christmas Parable

A man is climbing a mountain, at the top of which he hopes to find God. By ascending the heights, the seeker expects to leave all the cares and miseries of life behind in the valley. But while he climbs, God is coming down the mountain into the toil and grief. In the mists of the mountain God and the man pass one another. When the man reaches the mountaintop, he will find nothing. God is not there. What then will he do? He knows the climbing was a mistake, but in agony of that recognition, will he fall down and despair? Or will he turn to retrace his path through the mists and into the valley to where God has gone seeking him? Love came down at Christmas, but only a few perceived its coming. Reference {John 10:17}{John 10:17}; \reference {John 15:13}{John 15:13}; \reference {1 John 3:16}{1 John 3:16}