Have you ever missed out on anything good?
Story of falling asleep on the school bus and missing my bus stop.
In 1985, Microsoft went public. In 1986, their share hit an all time low at $21. Today that 1 stock would be worth $8899.20 after it has increased and split. I missed it. Of course, I was only 13, but I still missed it.
You ever miss it with God? Yeah, I missed the bus, and I missed my chance to be rich, but have you ever "missed it:" with God? My friend Bruce did. One day, not so long ago, he had just the most horrible day ever: He had been passed over for a promotion; blew up at work and ended up getting fired; had a fight with his girlfriend; and when he finally turned to God, he wasn't open to what God was telling him. Here, I actually have some video of that day:
Bruce missed it- Video from Bruce Almighty.
Now to us, it's pretty obvious that God was trying to get Bruce's attention, but here are some Bible stories that show some others that "missed it":
Luke 18:9-14
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men-robbers, evildoers, adulterers-or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God.
Matt 6:5-8
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Pharisees missed it- more caught up in "looking holy" than actually being holy.
Luke 18: 18-23 - The Rich Ruler
18 certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
19 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good-except God alone.
20 You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.'"
21 "All these I have kept since I was a boy," he said.
22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.
Rich young ruler missed it: Was more caught up in his earthy possessions.
Now, I don't share those stories so I can be like the Pharisees and show how much better I am than those folks, but I do share them so that we can learn from them. When I talk to God, or seek God- what are my motives? Are they selfish? Or are they really Seeking God's will in my life?
Here are a couple of examples of those who didn't miss it:
Matthew 2:1-2
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."
Wise men- it wasn't enough for them to hear about Jesus- they had to find out for themselves.
Mark 6:41-44
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything-all she had to live on."
Woman who gave all- she understood that trusting in God requires sacrifice at times.
Missy said a couple weeks ago that "to God, we are the best thing since sliced bread." I love that analogy! Sliced bread is amazing! Sandwiches! toast! I dunno what people did before slicing their bread, but I know that my life is better because of it! I love it! And God loves me more than that! God didn't send Jesus just so we could have eternal life, but so that our lives here on earth would be full and fulfilling; so we could have a real hope; a real relationship with the Creator of everything! And each and every one of us personally! That is just how amazing His love for us is!
John 10:7-10
Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
The rich young ruler missed it. The Pharisees missed it. They figured that just knowing about Jesus would be enough, and they missed out on a full life full of Jesus. They didn't put the effort into making the relationship work- and this is why Jesus came. That same love that Wally talked about last week is why He wants that relationship with us. It isn't enough to simply know about Jesus- we have to experience Him- and just like the magi- we have to seek Him.
What is causing you to miss it? Unconfessed sin? Pride? Fear of what God may ask of you? Unwillingness to grow? Something else?
As we start out a new year, we as humans love to look at it as a fresh start, and a new beginning. We love to make resolutions, promises, goals for the upcoming future. As we start 2010, don't miss it. God is calling you into a deeper relationship with him- no matter where you are- there is more to grasp- more grace, more love, more God.
To quote Pastor D from before Thanksgiving:
As 2010 begins- Don't miss out on what God has for you. Seek Him today. Seek Him tomorrow. Seek Him all year long. You won't regret it.