Dr. Charles Stanley: Well,
the manger scene with Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, with a few
animals in the barn is a scene that most of us have thought
about and have seen and have talked about all the,
these many, many years. But today, this very sacred
scene has become a target. And when I think about the
manger scenes that have been placed in different places,
earlier in this century, it was more often seen than today. And little by little, the manger
scene has been discarded because some people objected. And they saw that as a target. The most important event in the
history of all humanity, a target of people who hate God,
hate religion, who are agnostic or totally unbelievers,
it's become a target. Then, it became a political
issue. And so, that today, you see less
and less scenes of the Mary and Joseph, Jesus, and all the rest
that you and I know about. So, they go to court. They do all kind of things to
remove the manger scene. But think about this, God placed
the first manger scene here and no matter what somebody says or
does or what kind of laws they pass, the effects of the manger
scene will still be here when Jesus comes no matter what
they try to do. And, when I understand what
really happened in that spot, that place, wherever it may be,
and there are manger scenes all over the country today,
regardless of what people try to do. So, I want us think about it
in light of let's look into a little deeper look at that
because there's more there than simply Mary and Joseph and the
shepherds who came. And so when you look at that
scene, you realize that there's more to it than meets the eye. So, I want us to look at it. It was the most significant
birth in the world--the most significant thing that had
happened up until that time. Because it was that moment in
time when God came to earth in the form of a baby to live among
men; to grow up; live in a carpenter shop; learn to be
a carpenter. One day laid aside His apron
maybe and His tools and walked out to change the world. That makes it a very, very
significant scene. So when you look at it,
it's easy to say, "Well, we've seen this for years." But what does it represent? It's a reminder of your
salvation. It's a reminder that you don't
have to worry about dying. It's a reminder that your name
is written in the Lamb's Book of Life. And it's a reminder that all of
your blessed assurance is not because of anything you and I
have done, but simply respond to the truth of the message of the
gospel which began pictorially right there in that situation. And then, when you begin to look
at what the Scripture says about Him, I want us to look at the
Colossians chapter one for a moment because here is an
awesome description of what this manger scene is all about in
this first chapter. Speaking of Jesus, "In whom we
have redemption, the forgiveness of our sins. This is what was happening. He is--watch this now--"He is
the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were
created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things have been created
through Him and for Him." That is, in that scene is the
baby we just described. "The image of the invisible God;
the firstborn of all creation." And then the Scripture says He,
"He is," not was, but "He is before all things; and in Him
all things hold together." That is, in that cradle lay
a baby that everything we have just read about was true of Him. People criticize that scene. That scene is a picture of the
most significant thing that has ever happened until the cross,
the crucifixion and the resurrection. So the Scripture says, "He is
before," listen to that--not was, "He is before all things. In Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the
church, He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead," that
is resurrection, "so that He Himself will come to have first
place in everything. For it was the Father's good
pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him,
and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made
peace through the blood of the cross; through Him, I say,
whether things in earth or things in heaven." That's what happened and that's
what that scene represents. Now that's an awesome
description of the Lord Jesus Christ. So, when somebody sort of
recklessly says, "You ought to take that thing out of your
yard, or that's just religious stuff." No, it's not just
religious--it's reality. It's eternal reality. When you read that passage in
Colossians chapter one and recognize and ponder over those
words about who Jesus is and what happened that night He was
born, we should all bow before that scene to say, "Thank You,
thank You, dear God for giving to us the Son of God." And so, when you think about it,
was that something insignificant? The most significant thing that
had ever happened since the creation of the world--the
coming of God in the person of a baby, to dwell among men; and
one day to die on a cross, resurrect and ascend to Heaven;
and one day He's coming back. Everything about all of it is
sacred to all of us whose names are written in the Lamb's Book
of Life. Who all have to go back to the
Scripture to say here's what happened. And the reason I'm saved and my
name is in the Lamb's Book of Life because God chose to come
to earth in the form of a babe, lay down His life on the cross,
pay my sin-debt in full, even before I was born. Think about this. Our names are written in the
Lamb's Book of Life. And think about this. Not to any of our credit. Think about it. That all of your life you will
live and the blessings of God you'll receive, and the
forgiveness of sin is yours. And your name is written in the
Lamb's Book of Life. Not one single one of us can
take any credit for any of that. So, at Christmas, if there was
more to give than ourselves, we should give it. And giving presents to other
people will remind us we've already received the greatest
present we'll ever be able to receive. The gift of the Son of God as
our Savior, Lord, Master and the hope and the promise of Heaven
forever and ever and ever. That's ours. [congregation applauding] And think about this. You can't determine a person's
value by their surroundings. And if you'll think about
Jesus--wasn't born in a palace. You'd think the Son of God
should be born in a palace--no. He was born in a little crib. So, you can't look at their
surroundings. Bethlehem--where was that? A small town. And no one who walked into
a stable like that would possibly believe that God
was lying there. They couldn't possibly
believe that. That Holy God chose to come to
earth in the form of a babe--virgin born. And so, the interesting thing to
me is that people who want to criticize the virgin birth and
sort of make fun of it and say, "Well, that's impossible." What do we say? Yes! Yes, yes, yes, it's impossible. No, that would take a miracle. Yes, it's a miracle because it's
God at work on a human level that man could not understand. It was God coming to earth in
the form of a babe to grow up like any other little boy except
sinless, and one day lay down His life in order that you and I
would have eternal life. Can they explain it? No. And I think one of the reasons
they want to get rid of it is because it's so overwhelming. They can't explain it. Watch this. It's their pride--they can't
explain how a baby could give them eternal life. They don't, they can't explain
how God operates. And so you and I have so much
to be grateful for. And when I meet people like that
it doesn't get me upset. I feel sorry for them, for the
simple reason--listen--they can have this awesome mind that can
explain, invent, you name it, and they can't conceive of God
becoming a child, a baby. God growing up, dying on a
cross, being resurrected, and returning to the Father,
writing our name in the Lamb's Book of Life. They don't understand that. I do, I understand why
they don't understand. One of the reasons they don't
understand is they don't want to. Naturally, if I want to live
a sinful life, I don't want to believe all that stuff. So, I understand why they're
foolish; why they are very foolish not to consider the fact
that the birth of Jesus Christ was a reality. And the fact that He walked
among men was a reality. That He died upon a cross was
a reality. And that He died in order to
save us from our sins was a reality. That He rose from the dead is
a reality. Sits at the Father's right hand
as the judge of all mankind. Listen. If I didn't want to live a godly
life, I wouldn't want to believe that. But I'm sorry friend,
it's the truth. And what you look with disdain,
is your only hope of eternal life. So be wise. Think about this. Just think about, just possibly
if it's truth--what does it mean to you? Christmas is not about packages. It's not about eating. It's not about fun. It's about God. It's about Jesus. It's about the cross. It's about the Resurrection. It's about hope. It's about assurance. Unless this was Jesus the Son
of God, unless He did die on the cross paying our sin-debt
in full as an atonement, it's meaningless. But thank God it is all the
truth--the eternal truth of God prepared before the foundation
of the world. So, it's a significant time,
far more serious than people take it. And so, when I think about that
and I think about the fact that God made His greatest
revelations to us in such a lowly in such a lowly fashion. Think about this. He could have made Jesus some
great emperor. He could have made Jesus some
great king. There were kings; there were
emperors; there were all kinds of important people. But think about what God did. Shocked the world. He rose from the grave and all
of us who have accepted Him as our Savior, God changed
our life. And if somebody says, "Well how,
how do you know you're saved?" You can explain it. You have assurance in
your heart. Why? Because it's a promise of
Almighty God. We have a relationship with
this Jesus. And we have a relationship
with Almighty God. Everything was changed the
moment Jesus Christ was conceived in the body of
the Virgin Mary. And His life from thereafter has
changed everything. This was an event in time that
changed everything. And to all of us who are wise
enough to accept Christ as our Savior, He gave us the promise
of eternal life. So, when I think about the fact
that God revealed all of this to a bunch of shepherds. He also does some other things
that we don't expect. Think about this. He made it possible for you to
go to heaven and He called it being born again. And so, He made it simple enough
that if you and I confess, repent of our sins, and place
our trust in that baby born in Bethlehem and grew up to be a
carpenter, the Son of God, the Messiah, who sits at the
Father's right hand. He made it so simple so that you
and I could understand salvation. Think of that. Jesus did not speak in terms
above people's heads. He talked about things that they
understood. And He talked about sheep, and
He talked about life. He talked about death and talked
about relationships. He made it possible for us to
understand how God thought, because He was God in the flesh. He didn't make anything
difficult. You say, "Well, I don't
always understand everything the Bible says." Probably all of us would have to
say there are some things we don't fully understand. We don't fully understand
miracles unless we're willing to give God the credit that He has
the power to perform them. So, God has made all of these
things possible so that even a child. And I think about one morning
Becky was five years of age and she said to me after breakfast,
she says, "Dad, would you pray with me? I want to receive Jesus as
my personal Savior." Five years old. My first thought was, "Now,
Becky, do you understand this?" And so, I began to talk to her
a little bit and she assured me that she understood that Jesus
died on a cross for her sins. And think about a five-year-old
girl concerning about sin. Died for her sins and that if
she would confess her sins, she would be saved. Well, I was with her this week
and she said, "I remember you kneeling by my bed with me and
I prayed and asked Jesus to come into my heart. I've never doubted that." Think about the world, and all
the wisdom of the world. Think about what God did. He made it possible for children
as well as adults to understand enough about forgiveness; to
pray and to have eternal life at a very, very young age. Think about how complicated we
make things today. I think of the computer,
for example. So many things about it are
so difficult. God made the most important
thing in all of our lives very simple. "If you're willing to confess to
Me, that is to agree with Me that you're a sinner. If you're willing to ask Me to
forgive you of your sins. If you're willing to ask Me to
forgive you on the basis that I died and paid your sin-debt in
full, that I would save you forever." Think about how wise that was,
how wise God is. He didn't intend for it to be
complicated. He intended for it to be simple
so that even a child could understand forgiveness; and that
the cross was payment-- the shed blood. And that this Jesus rose from
the grave and He's seated at the Father's right hand. Then here's what He did. He sent the Holy Spirit to
convict us, to help us to see what sin was in our life, to
identify sin in our life, in order to be able to be saved
very early in life. I was twelve. My daughter was five. And I think Andy was about eight
or something like that. Think about that. Watch it. Your eternal future; your
eternal future hinged on one decision you made--trusting
Jesus Christ as your Savior. You talk about an awesome God. God--born as a babe, placed in
a manger, not in a palace. Growing up in a normal home
whose mother was criticized because it didn't look like she
was very pure. Look at all the things God did
that were so unnatural when we think about holiness. Every event was holy. Every event was righteous. Because that's who God is. He doesn't operate on the basis
of what we think. He operates on the basis of
perfection, holiness, righteousness, purity, truth. He operates on the basis
of truth. So, when the Bible says, "Except
a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." That's so true. People, people can't understand
this whole Christian life unless they're born again; unless
there's a transformation in their life. And when they do,
everything changes. Because the ways of God and the
ways of man differ. And when we look at the story
of Jesus and His birth, it's unlike anything that we would
think of today. So, we have become mentally
brainwashed. We have to have computers
and all the things that go with that. And all this information--think
about this. All the information you, you can
touch this key or that key and anything you want to know you
can find out. We think we invented all
of that. God knew all about that when
Mary gave birth to Jesus. He's known about it all
the time. And you know what? Think about this. As wise as we think we are
we're so brilliant about so many things that the most
important thing that ever happened was very simple. A woman gave birth to a child
who was the Savior of the world; who died on a cross; who rose
from the dead; who sits at the Father's right hand. And that's the only thing we'll
ever learn that will get us to Heaven. He made it so simple. [congregation applauding] And I think about--God
doesn't do His work necessarily all the time through people who
are great and great minds and so forth. But whoever, who was Mary? Some little girl from Nazareth. Who was Joseph? Some fellow out there. And look what God did
through them. Watch this carefully. Don't ever underestimate what
God wants to do in your life. He may want to do something
in your life then you think, "Who am I?" Can you imagine how shocked Mary
was when she found out that she was pregnant? And probably how scared to death
she was, except that God had spoken to her. If you try to fit your life into
the world's mold, you miss life at its best. When you surrender your life to
Jesus and tell Him that whatever He wants to do with your life is
fine with you. You surrender your life to Him. You may not ever have a big job. The world may not
know about you. But when you surrender your life
to Him, here's what you have. You have the best. Now, If anybody had said to my
mother, "Rebecca, you gave birth to Charles and, the Father took
your husband away when he was just nine months of age--that
was best." My mother nor any other woman in
their might, right mind would agree with that. But God knew what He was doing. He makes no mistakes. It took me a long time to
convince my mom that God didn't make a mistake. Say, "Mom, suppose I'd had a
father and I'd had a lot of good things in life and things would
have been easier for me. But what did He do? He just left me with you and
just the two of us. You remember when we lived
in one room? And it was difficult and you
only made nine dollars and ten cents for forty hours of work. You remember how many hours you
worked and day after day after day. And somebody had to keep me and
you remember all the things you went through and--" And sometime
my mom would tear up and I'd say, "You know what? All that was perfect. All that was good. Because what it did, it made you
and me absolutely depend upon God for everything. So whenever that's true,
that's good. God doesn't operate the way
we operate. His ways are higher than
our ways. And His grace and goodness and
love and mercy we'll never deserve. So, it may be that today it'd be
good for you to look back in your life and think about maybe
the hard times you had and, or your parents had and maybe you
haven't had a lot of things that your friends have had
and so forth. Remember this. God doesn't make any mistakes. No mistakes. He does what the wisdom of only
God could possibly do. He doesn't make any mistakes. And you know what? God hasn't made
any mistakes in your life. He hasn't. He's allowed things
that you don't like. Naturally. He's allowed things that cause
you hurt and pain and suffering. But the moment you trusted
Jesus Christ as your Savior, He put you on a high level. That does not mean that you
won't suffer and hurt. And sometimes accuse God
of mistreating you. But the truth is, He's watching
over you, caring for you. And if you look to the world to
help you understand what God's doing in your life, you'll
probably never understand it. He saved you. None of us can say, "Well,
I understand why God saved me." No you don't.
No you don't. You understand what happened
maybe when He saved you. But why did God what about
your neighbor? He didn't chase--
hadn't saved him. Some of your friends, people you
work with--some of them are not saved. You've talked to them about
Jesus--they're still not saved. We're all dependent upon this
resurrected Christ. Born in a manger to His own
a stranger as the song goes. They never understood. So, Christmas is an awesome time
of a mighty God of awesome love, who does things we'll never
understand. And who did something we will
never be able to explain fully. He took this little girl from
Nazareth and this little guy Joseph. He did something miraculous in
their lives, and He's been changing lives ever since. Now, if you're not a Christian,
you may not have understood all this. But let me just say this to you. You'll never understand unless
you're willing to understand. Unless you're willing to at
least acknowledge the fact this Jesus has transformed the world. This Jesus is unlike any other
person born. This Jesus is the way to God. And you can never find anything
to criticize Him for legitimately, because He was
perfect. Who else would go to a cross
for your sins? Only the Son of God. Who else would forgive you for
all the dirty, nasty stuff you've done and thought about? Only the Son of God. You either have Jesus and His
forgiveness or one day you stand before God and be judged for
your unbelief and your sinfulness. If you're willing to join the
ranks of God's children by confessing your sins and
surrendering your life to the Lord Jesus Christ, your name
will be written in the Lamb's Book of Life. No matter what happens to you
from this moment on, when you die, the Bible says, "Absent
from the body, present with the Lord. For those who die without
Christ, absent from the body-- judgment." It's an awesome,
awesome opportunity. And remember this. There is no other way
to be saved, to be forgiven-- no other way. Except a man be born
again--unless God transforms your life, no other way. I don't know what you've heard,
what you've believed. It's either Jesus or eternal
separation from God. And think about how patient He's
been with you so far. The wisest thing you can do, if
you've never trusted Christ as your Savior, whoever you are,
wherever you are is to ask the Lord Jesus Christ to forgive you
of your sins. Surrender your life to Him and
let Him change your eternal destiny. We're saved by faith, by the
grace of God, through faith. Amen? congregation: Amen. Dr. Stanley: Father, we
thank You that You don't do it our way. Thank You that You
did it Your way. Thank You for grace, love,
mercy, kindness--all that You can just pour into our lives
day after day. Thank You for the Crucifixion,
the Resurrection. And thank You that You've
promised to come back. Thank You that You've promised
to come back one of these days and call us home to be with You. Whether it's individually or
that day that the Lord Jesus Christ descends from Heaven with
His holy angels to rapture His Church, the Body of Christ. We just want to say today,
Lord Jesus, we love You. Don't always understand
but we love You. We praise You. We adore You. And we pray that You'll so work
in all of our lives that those who meet us will meet
the Lord Jesus Christ. In whose name we pray, amen.
