December 24, 2009

"While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." Luke 2:6-7

Sadly, for some people ChristMAS becomes ChristMISS.

In the Christmas story that truth is illustrated by the innkeeper and his wife.

With all the people who were in Bethlehem that day, the innkeeper hit the jackpot! He was able to rent every room and do it at a premium price. That is a small-businessman's dream!

But, when Joseph and Mary showed up, there was no room left for them. Because they couldn't make room for the birth of the Christ, they missed a once in an eternity opportunity. They could have partaken in the single most important event ever! But they had no room for Jesus. For them, the first ChristMAS was a ChristMISS. They hit the jackpot, but missed the joy.

Unfortunately, there have been recent contemporary examples of this same sad situation.

Most obvious is Tiger Woods. Tiger is the first sports personality to earn a billion dollars. He is healthy, good-looking, charming, has an incredible golf game, a mansion on the water, a 160 foot yacht, a beautiful wife and two lovely children. He has hit the jackpot! He has earned it. It just seems that he has missed the joy.

I pray that he can salvage his marriage. I hope he doesn't lose the jackpot trying to find the joy. I pray that he will understand his need to make room for Jesus. Jesus IS the joy!

Brittany Murphy was a beautiful young actress with a successful career, a Hollywood Hills home, and a husband. It appeared she had hit the jackpot. Then, a few days ago she was found dead in her bathroom. While the cause of death is yet to be determined, it is highly unusual for a healthy 32 year-old to die of a heart attack. Preliminary evidence does not look good.

It apprears to be another incident of someone who hit the jackpot but missed the joy. She made room for everything - except Jesus.

For the innkeeper and his wife it was ChristMISS. The same for Tiger. And for Brittany.

How about you? Have you made room for Jesus? Will you make room for Him at the center of your being?

If you do you will discover that the joy IS the jackpot!