Dec 21,2008

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A Season Of Wonder
Open Your Heart’s Door To Divine Encounters
Luke 2:8-20

Introduction: The Tragedy of Missing Christmas

Sometime back, Moody Magazine told the story of a guy named George Mason. His life was consumed by his work. He lived alone, which only contributed to his work addiction. Although he had few friends, each Christmas he received several invitations to spend Christmas Day with a family. He always declined the offers. This particular Christmas was no exception.

On Christmas Eve, after all his employees left, George Mason went into the office vault to get a little extra cash. To his shock, the heavy door of the walk-in safe shut behind him. Desperately, he pounded on the steel door, but no one was around to hear. Even the custodian had left early to do some last-minute Christmas shopping. The lonely miser consoled himself, "I can make it alright until morning." But suddenly he recalled—the next day was Christmas. No one would be coming in for two days. He panicked as he tried to figure out if there would be sufficient oxygen. Then he remembered: The vault had recently been installed and was supposed to have a safety air intake. He felt around in the dark and eventually found the emergency feature in a corner near the floor.

On the day after Christmas, early in the morning, the chief cashier arrived and, as was his routine, unlocked the vault but didn't bother opening the door. George Mason, exhausted, faint, hungry, and thirsty, exited the human-size safe without being spotted. And by the time he went home, showered, dressed, and returned to the office, no one suspected a thing. Life went on as usual—except for one thing: George Mason had missed Christmas.

Can you believe it? He missed Christmas because the door to the safe closed on him. He's the only person I've ever heard of who had that happen. But, tragically there are many people who "miss" Christmas year after year. You understand what I mean by that, don't you? People buy and receive presents and decorate their homes and trees and make an appearance at the appropriate number of parties and church programs, but they completely miss the opportunity to savor the splendor and contemplate the mystery of God's love made visible. I'm referring to those people who never get around to shutting the door on the outside world so they can fully experience the wonder-filled Christmas waiting to be enjoyed. Hear me as I say it again slowly: A wonder-filled Christmas. A wonder-filled Christmas is punctuated with childlike enthusiasm, contemplation, and wide-eyed amazement that the God of the universe actually came to us as a baby and ran the human race with us. It's hard to wrap your fingers around the awesome wonder of that mystery. It takes intentionality, time, worship, and listening—and that's a tall order!

Someone has tragically observed that our generation worships our work, works at our play, and plays at our worship. No wonder people have grown accustomed to "missing" Christmas. We can go through the entire season of Christmas and miss the divine encounter that is the reason we celebrate. It helps to look at Christmas through the eyes of children. They capture the wonder that we too often lose as we become older and more sophisticated.

The Shepherds Had A Decision To Make

The shepherds were doing what they always did as they watched the sheep. They were just tending to business when—BAM!—the sky lit up with fireworks, an angel appeared and talked to them and, then, a gazillion angels joined in shouting praises to God!

Now the shepherds had a decision to make. Would they act on what they had just heard or would they simply carry on counting sheep until the cows came home? To act on the news they had received would require a change in their routine. They would have to close the door on business as usual to personally experience the wonder of their divine encounter.

But Luke tells us they were afraid—afraid of UHOs (unidentified hovering objects)! Who wouldn't be? In fact, it seems to me that every time we have an account of angels appearing in the New Testament, their standard greeting is, "Fear not! Don't be afraid!" Maybe that's angelese for "Hey, what’s up?" But I rather doubt it. They said, "Don't be afraid!" because it's a frightening thing to encounter an angel unexpectedly.

I wonder if they weren't also afraid of what it would mean to leave their work at the office—I mean, on the hillside. After all, who would care for their sheep while they were off searching for a baby wrapped in rags, lying in a feeding trough? We ask those same kinds of questions, don't we? "What do you mean, leave my work at the office? You obviously don't understand the nature of what I do. I can't let up, even for a week, or I'm likely to find myself let go and out of a job."

We Have A Decision To Make

Did you ever hear of the little boy with a learning disability? He worked really hard to keep up with the others in his classroom, but because of his unique challenges, he kept falling behind. As a result, his backpack was crammed full with homework every night. There was no letup. He no longer could play outside with his friends after school. By the time he had done what he could with his school work, it was time for bed. The parents consulted with the elementary school guidance counselor and decided that their son needed to be placed with a class of slower learners. It quickly became apparent that the right decision had been made. The third grader got his childhood back, complete with after-school play, positive self-esteem, and grades that matched the front end of the alphabet.

After several weeks of asking his dad if they could play together after dinner, he grew weary of the same response: "I'm sorry, buddy, I have a briefcase full of work I have to do." One day he simply said, "Well, Dad, can't they just put you in a slower class too?"

It's kind of funny, but . . . well . . . can't they, Dad? Can't they, Mom? Do you know when to leave work at work and close the door on a world where there will always be a little bit more for you to do? Have you ever heard anyone confess on their dying bed in a hospital that they regret not spending more time at the office? No, you never have and neither have I. We never will, either. What we probably have heard is the pitiful litany of, “Why didn't I spend more time with the people I love? Or serving the one I call Lord?”

Giving it a rest when it comes to work can be a frightening thought. Right? This morning, we need to hear an angel or two telling us not to be afraid as he reminds us of the awesome wonder we can experience—if we are willing.

In one sense, Christmas is just like any other time of the year. There are sheep on the hillside now, just like there were last week and like there will be next month. Deadlines are deadlines and success usually depends on meeting them. But in another sense, Christmas is the time to take a fresh glance at what really matters. Will it be just another day of work, or will it be a time to pursue the wonders of God's love? Unlocking the door to a season of wonder means closing the door to business-as-usual so we can be open to divine encounters when they come.

The Shepherds Experienced God’s Wonder

The shepherds knew the wonder. The angels had told them the most incredible story they had ever heard! The long-awaited deliverer of Israel—the Messiah—had been born, today, just a few miles away. That's wonder with a capital W!

They closed the door on their routines for a while. They left the sheep behind and discovered for themselves that the wonder was true. They weren’t the same after that. They told others what they had been told about this newborn baby. They glorified and praised God for everything they had heard and seen. Just think: If they had decided to stay with the sheep and carry on with business as usual they would have missed their divine appointment.

We Can Experience God’s Wonder

How long has it been since you experienced God’s wonder? How often are you brought to the point where you have to say, “Isn’t He Wonderful?” Well, to paraphrase one of the great philosophers of our time, Forest Gump, “Wonder is as wonder does.” The question becomes: Will we intentionally seek out and discover for ourselves what we know God says is true? Will we make our way to Bethlehem to ponder the wonderful One? Only when we intentionally go to Bethlehem will we experience firsthand what we have been told ever since we first heard the Christmas story as children. I’m not talking about arranging a tour of the Holy Land. I’m talking about daring to encounter God who took the first step to encounter us when He sent the angels to announce the birth of Jesus to those scared-to-death shepherds.

You remember the sense of wonder you found in that story about peace among those with whom God is pleased, and you dared to believe God was talking about you. The story left you wide-eyed with wonder because of words like "good news of great joy." The story talked about the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us full of grace and truth—grace and truth; good news; great joy; God's pleasure; peace. Every year we come to the familiar lines of that age-old drama and think, “Is it really true? Is it really possible?”

Do you know how to know that wonder? You've got to find a way to leave your work at work and then close the front door behind you as you come home to a place that is symbolically decorated with all kinds of wondrous reminders. That's how you leave the sheep on the hillside and wind your way to Bethlehem. You intentionally carve out time to ponder the wonder you already know about. The wonder never went anywhere. We just tend to lose it along the way.

Have you caught the key word that makes wonder possible? Intentionally is the operative word here. Say it slowly, “Intentionally.” You must choose to do what Mary did as she treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart. No one is going to do that for you. If you simply rely on your inner compass, it won't happen either. The arrow on your compass probably points to the office or the workshop or the factory or the store—not to the stable.

Open Your Heart To God’s Wonder

We open our hearts to wonder:

By Watching Diligently For Divine Encounters

The shepherds were routinely watching their flocks when God showed up. Another shepherd named Moses was also performing his daily duties when he stumbled across God’s holy fire in the burning bush. We are told in Exodus 3 that it was his curiosity that moved him to go over and check out this bush that was on fire but didn’t burn up. We have to be watching for these divine encounters. We should expect that if we are seeking God that He will actually show up—even in, no especially in, the routine events of our days.

By Listening Intently To The Lord’s Message

The shepherd’s took in every word without interrupting. God had their attention. Once we realize God has broken into our routine, it’s wise to listen to what He is telling us.

By Acting Deliberately On God’s Instructions

When the angels left, the shepherds looked at one another and said, “What are we waiting for? We have an appointment in Bethlehem!” One of the reasons we miss God’s wonder is our propensity to study and analyze when God has called us to move. There is a time for study. There is also a time to act.

By Praising God Joyfully For His Work

The shepherds returned to their routine praising God. They knew their lives would never be the same. As we follow and He responds, our first action should be to praise Him instead of affirming how wise we were to act.

If we anticipate God’s desire to actively work in our lives we will see Him do just that. I'm not going to promise a celestial show like the shepherds had. But who is to say what God will say to you—and how He will say it? It’s time to get practical now to see how we can carve out space for some intentionality in our schedules.

To recognize divine encounters when they come, you have to create some margin in your schedule these final few days leading up to Christmas. I believe most of us would love to isolate our thoughts and internalize the good news and great joy promised by God. To find the peace that too often is a hope instead of heart-reality, you will have to figure out what you can do to create that kind of isolation. Putting a lid on your kettle of work-related commitments is one thing. Leaving your work at work is another. Recognizing God in every person you meet, and how He's working in every situation you run into, is a third. The truth is: This is too busy a time of year to actually delete much from your "to-do" list. But, perhaps there are a few things you could eliminate to make space for some contemplation and personal worship. Are you open for some suggestions?

Why not forget the newspaper for this week? Substitute the time you would normally spend on the paper to read a Christmas devotional book. Pastor Rick Warren’s new book The Purpose of Christmas has been featured on many news show. If you don’t want to buy a book, there are some great books and videos about Jesus in our library.

Instead of watching the news, sit in front of the Christmas tree and quietly whisper the wish list of your heart to the Lord while listening to Christmas carols.

Look for some of the Christmas specials that are Christ-focused. The recent Billy Graham special was really good.

Take some Christmas music with you in the car. I’m not talking about Bing Crosby, Burl Ives and Andy Williams. I’m talking about music with good Christian artists who will minister to your heart as well as your ears.

I know time is at a premium right now so what I’m suggesting is that you modify an activity you are going to do anyway to put yourself in a place where you are available to God. If you ever wonder why it seems like you never encounter God, you are going to have to deal with the very real need to intentionally carve out time to be where God can reach you.

The creativity of the cell phone commercials never ceases to amaze me. The current theme presented by Verizon pictures some very scary places where we can end up that are called dead zones. As the threat is finished, the person being threatened looks over at the ever-present guy in the black-rimmed glasses, along with the all the people involved in the network, to hear these words of reassurance, “You’re good!”

When it comes to our relationship with God, the frightening reality is that we create most of our problems by living in the dead zones. That first Christmas the angels came and met the shepherds to tell them, “You’re good!” Maybe you need to create some new traditions that put you in places where “you’re good” so you won’t miss the wonder of the season.

As I've reflected on the experience of the shepherds, I've landed on an interesting insight. By the time the shepherds got to the manger, Christmas was over. The baby had already been born. Their contemplation and worship was after the fact. And yet, in the aftermath of that wonderful miracle the shepherds found their wonder-filled afterglow. What I most want to do is to open your mind to the creative ways you can close the door on business-as-usual and internalize the wonder of this season. And you can do it; I know you can. Then, when you do go back to your everyday work after Christmas, your life will bear witness to the fact that you have been with Jesus. As a result, you will just have to glorify and praise God for the things you have seen and heard. You simply won’t be able to keep it to yourself! You will want to share the wonder with others. People will know with certainty that you didn’t miss Christmas.

Conclusion: The Moral To The Story

Poor George Mason. Remember him? The workaholic trapped in a Christmas tomb? When he finally pushed the door open and walked away from the vault, no one ever knew he had actually missed Christmas. No one had a clue he'd been locked in the safe for two nights. Because he had isolated himself from others in pursuit of his single-minded goals, when he was unintentionally partitioned off from others, no one even noticed.

But hear ye, hear ye. There's a moral to this story. When we intentionally close the door on business-as-usual, to contemplate the One who has delivered us from self-centered goals and isolation, we will find the very thing we long for—a season of wonder unlike any other we have ever known.