Show where’s wally pic…. It’s fun to try and find Wally isn’t it with all the stuff around him? By the way, Waldo is the same guy as Wally, who actually came from England. Besides the one on the sign, can you find Wally??
We’ll put the picture back up later again.
What does this have to do with Christmas? Well, Christmas these days seem like a picture like this doesn’t it (show ads picture)…..
These days, there seems to be so much stuff around Christmas that Christ Himself has been buried in all the stuff, like Wally! And sadly, many are not even asking the question “Where is Jesus?”
During this time of year, we do see a lot of this, we even sing about it.…. Show a nativity scene…
This looks nice, but it is really, really old news, like over 2000 years ago! We need to know history but, are we to live in the past? We are to live in the present based on the past and with the hope of the future! You probably heard the saying that God gave us today, that is why it is called the present! Today, right now, is God’s gift, your present, so live it out!
Jesus said “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to God the Father except through me.” Isn’t it very, very important to know where Jesus is? And so, I will ask Where is Jesus right now??
If you have a Bible, turn to the Book of Acts. I will read God’s Word acts 1:1-11…
And yes, many other Scriptures tell us that at the present, Jesus Christ is in heaven speaking to God the Father on behalf of Believers of Christ. We can also note from Acts 1 and again other Scriptures that at the present, Jesus is in heaven at the side of God the Father interceding for His Believers AND waiting for the Father to give Him the go ahead to return to earth!
We are to live in the present based on the past and with the hope of the future! And again, Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to Father God except through Jesus! And so, we are really to live in the present based on the past and with the hope of the future in Jesus Christ!
How do we do this? We have to know where Jesus is right now, what His past was, and His future in relation with us!
We already noted that Jesus right now is with God praying for all His Believers!
Who are His Believers? Jesus’ Believers know, believe, and accept Jesus’ past! And so, what was Jesus’s past in relation to people?
2000 years ago?? – Jesus left heaven and became human flesh, baby to adulthood, died on a cross for people’s sin, rose from the dead, and ascended back to heaven!
Before the Creation of the universe?? - Jesus said, “And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began” (John 17:5). – Jesus was with God in eternity past before the creation of the world!
During Creation?? – John 1:2-3… He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. – Jesus Christ was the Creator of all things with God!
During the Old Testament?? John 5:39…. Jesus said - You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me.. Jesus was proclaimed as the Messiah/Savior and appeared several times to people as the Angel of the Lord!
We are to live in the present based on the past and with the hope of the future in Jesus Christ! Do you and I truly believe in Jesus of the past?
How about the future? From Acts 1 and other Scriptures, In the very near future, Jesus will return to earth no longer a baby but King of kings and Lord of lords to judge the living and the dead! Do you and I truly believe in Jesus of the future?
We are to live in the present based on the past and with the hope of the future in Jesus Christ!
And so in closing, this Christmas season, let us not only ask “Where is Jesus?” in all our activities, but truly believe in Jesus of the past and the future to come!
Like playing the game “Where’s Wally?”, enjoy Christmas time but don’t forget to know where Jesus is!!
Oh, and let us not forget the power of Jesus Christ; even though Jesus Christ is in heaven right now waiting to return to earth, Jesus also said to His Believers that He would be with us always! Receive Jesus Christ as God and Savior in your heart and He will be there always!
