Saturday, December 18, 2010
Window of Opportunity
The story is familiar to most of us. God causes a Jewish virgin by the name of Mary to become pregnant and angels declare that she will give birth to the Son of God. About the time of delivery Mary and her husband Joseph travel to Bethlehem, in compliance with a new tax code. Because they are poor and the town is overwhelmed with guests, Jesus’ parents-to-be are forced to spend the night in a stable. All of these events set the stage for history’s most amazing miracle – the incarnation. God was becoming flesh and only a select few people have the privilege of participating in the drama. Besides Mary and Joseph, there are only a handful of people given an amazing window of opportunity. Among them are shepherds who are watching their flocks by night, wise men from the East, and Herod the Great.
The shepherds are just poor, simple folks with nothing to lose. When angels appear in the heavens and tell them about the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, they embrace the opportunity and head for the stable. It is a night to remember. These shepherds, no doubt, retell the story of this magical night until their dying days.
The wise men are likely learned and wealthy “kings” from Persia or Arabia. They are men of power and status, yet they have enough sense to honor and obey the God who could control the stars. They follow the star to Judea and then inquire as to the baby king’s whereabouts. They are given an audience with King Herod, who feigns a desire to worship the king. These men go to considerable lengths to find the Christ child and lavish on him gifts that will later be invaluable to Jesus’ family as they flee to Egypt. The magi take their window of opportunity and in so doing have the privilege of meeting Jesus. They are also given a place of honor in the greatest history book ever written.
But then there is Herod the Great. This man is a Jew who has been given the title “King of Judea” by the Roman Senate. He is a self-preserving, ruthless killer who does not hesitate to have his own family members murdered. When the wise men tell him of a star in the heavens that indicates the birth of a king, his selfishness immediately springs into action. He lies to the wise men, asking them to return with news of the baby’s whereabouts so he, too, can worship the king. When God warns the wise men to return home another route, Herod realizes he has been outwitted and flies into a rage, ordering all male boys under two to be slaughtered.
Ironically, the well-funded king who has nothing to fear from Jesus and who has more to be secure about than any of the other characters in this story, blows his chance to be truly great; instead his name is forever a byword. He missed the same window of opportunity that the wise men and the shepherds utilized.
While it is easy to cluck our tongues and take Herod to task, we should take care that we don’t make the same mistake. Often times a window of opportunity comes in the form of a setback, a tragedy, or a situation that puts us out of our comfort zone. If we live cynical or guarded lives, we can tend to pass by the very opportunity that could bring our greatest joy. Often God will flag of us of our opportunity by sending wise men our way – people who are seeking God rather than seeking their own well-being. Wise men still seek him. Take inventory, maybe God is giving you a window of opportunity.
The shepherds are just poor, simple folks with nothing to lose. When angels appear in the heavens and tell them about the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, they embrace the opportunity and head for the stable. It is a night to remember. These shepherds, no doubt, retell the story of this magical night until their dying days.
The wise men are likely learned and wealthy “kings” from Persia or Arabia. They are men of power and status, yet they have enough sense to honor and obey the God who could control the stars. They follow the star to Judea and then inquire as to the baby king’s whereabouts. They are given an audience with King Herod, who feigns a desire to worship the king. These men go to considerable lengths to find the Christ child and lavish on him gifts that will later be invaluable to Jesus’ family as they flee to Egypt. The magi take their window of opportunity and in so doing have the privilege of meeting Jesus. They are also given a place of honor in the greatest history book ever written.
But then there is Herod the Great. This man is a Jew who has been given the title “King of Judea” by the Roman Senate. He is a self-preserving, ruthless killer who does not hesitate to have his own family members murdered. When the wise men tell him of a star in the heavens that indicates the birth of a king, his selfishness immediately springs into action. He lies to the wise men, asking them to return with news of the baby’s whereabouts so he, too, can worship the king. When God warns the wise men to return home another route, Herod realizes he has been outwitted and flies into a rage, ordering all male boys under two to be slaughtered.
Ironically, the well-funded king who has nothing to fear from Jesus and who has more to be secure about than any of the other characters in this story, blows his chance to be truly great; instead his name is forever a byword. He missed the same window of opportunity that the wise men and the shepherds utilized.
While it is easy to cluck our tongues and take Herod to task, we should take care that we don’t make the same mistake. Often times a window of opportunity comes in the form of a setback, a tragedy, or a situation that puts us out of our comfort zone. If we live cynical or guarded lives, we can tend to pass by the very opportunity that could bring our greatest joy. Often God will flag of us of our opportunity by sending wise men our way – people who are seeking God rather than seeking their own well-being. Wise men still seek him. Take inventory, maybe God is giving you a window of opportunity.
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