Can you hear the Bells?
There was a movie about Christmas last year called " The Polar Express" The story line of the movie was about several children that did not believe in Santa Claus anymore being taken to the North Pole to meet old Santa. There is one scene where a single bell falls from Santa's sleigh. The main character a young boy picks up the bell but cannot hear it ring. Why? because he no longer believes in Santa. He shakes the bell repeatedly but cannot hear it. Finally in frustration he says " I believe, I believe! and he can hear the bell.
Now I am not saying you must believe in Santa. Christians know there is a much deeper reason for Christmas, Jesus. But can you still hear the bells? There are many confirmed instances where innocent little children can hear the voice of God and angels. Very much like the little children believing in Santa Claus until they grow older and wiser. Why because man's wisdom has stolen their innocence.
Ask yourself when was the last time you heard God's quiet still voice speaking or calling to you. I would venture to guess it has been a while. Why? Is it that you just do not believe that our Lord still speaks to us. Please show me in the Word of God where it says that our Lord just decided that He was not going to speak to His Children. Is it because you just do not feel that our Lord would waste his time speaking to you. Again show me in the Word of God where our God every said "your just not worth my time". Come on, Paul was busy jailing and persecuting as many Christians as he could get his hands on and our Lord showed up on the scene and asked the rhetorical question "Saul, Saul why do your persecute me?" Now did you notice Jesus did not say "hey! Saul what's up with all this persecution of my workers." No my Lord and Savior took it personally that Saul was going after His children. Now don't you think a Savior who cared that much to take the persecution by Saul personally cares enough to notice what is going on in your life. Again why aren't you hearing the Lord speak to you. Remember what the Bible tells us. 1 Kings 19:11-13 (NLT) 11"Go out and stand before me on the mountain, the LORD told him. And as Elijah stood there, the LORD passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 13When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
Do you notice that after all the fireworks and showmanship our Lord shows up with a gentle whisper. Maybe you do not hear the voice of the Lord because you refuse to get away from the noise and busyness of the world and wait upon the Lord in the quiet stillness required to find Him. Do you still believe the Word of God. Isaiah 40:31 (NLT) 31But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Our Lord is not going to come up behind you and slap you on the shoulder and say "Hi". He is waiting for you to seek Him.
Again I ask do you believe? In the movie "Polar Express" it took a supernatural trip to the North Pole and for the young man to meet Santa to believe. What will it take for you again to hear the true bells of Christmas, Jesus' voice. Our Lord and Savor has not stopped speaking to us. We have stopped listening. Just take one long look at the world around you. They all have stopped listening. They cannot even hear the bells of Christmas. They want to make it the Holiday season and take the Christ out of Christmas. Why, because His children no longer hear the true bells of Christmas which is Jesus. As the Christmas song says "fall on your knees, Hear the angel voices, Oh Christ the Lord is Born."
If you cannot hear the true bells of Christmas, Jesus speaking to you, calling you. Please, Please fall on your knees and seek Him with all your heart before it is to late and you fall into Matthew 13:15 (ASV) For this people’s heart is waxed gross, And their ears are dull of hearing, And their eyes they have closed; Lest haply they should perceive with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And should turn again, And I should heal them. There will come a time if you do not seek Him with all your heart you will fall into this. It is not a fast processes, but a very slow numbing, a process of spending more time in the world than in the Word.
Please my friend if you even suspect that you can no longer hear the true bells of Christmas, then Seek and you shall find, Knock and it shall be opened to you, and Ask and it shall be given you.
God Bless and Merry Christmas.
Pastor A. J.
