Overture, Cut The Lights........

We get so excited every time we hear that one of favorite “stars” is coming somewhere near us. Months in advance the posters go up and the buzz begins. Then the night of the show finally arrives. I remember years ago hearing a song start, “People see us everywhere.” Then a voice saying, “They call him the high priest of country music.” Followed by more of the song, “They think you really care.” Followed by an excited Joe Hoppel saying, “Conway Twitty!” Then Conway would break into his rousing version of "O Danny Boy." You know the most famous person to every grace the world’s stage came with the all the same fanfare that our favorite artists come yet He was for the most part unnoticed. And even today many don’t recognize His presence.

Like all stars His arrival was announced in advance. But, unlike today’s artists who announce theirs a few months in advance, the arrival of the King was announced years, hundreds of years in advance. Isaiah wrote, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). Years before the actual appearance, God announced to the world that its star was going to appear. He even gave us the place: But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting (Micah 5:2).

Then can time for the big blessed event. The lights were down: and the darkness comprehended it not (John 1:5b). It was show time: and she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn (Luke 2:7). The overture began, “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men (Luke 2:13-14). The show began, yet there wasn’t a mad dash of people buying last minute tickets. A show that was announced hundreds of years in advance, a free show at that, began in quietness unnoticed by the people all around.

Even today many fail to recognize what happened over two thousand years ago. His return engagement was even announced: Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven (Acts 1:11). And though we don’t when it will be, we know it could be at any time: Behold, I come quickly (Revelation 22:7). Yet, many people are not getting excited. Maybe we are not getting the publicity wagon rolling as we should. Have you done your part to make His next appearance a sell out and standing room only?

Until next time May The Good Lord Bless and Keep You: All Y'all!

Bobby
Bobby Cohoon
North Carolina, USA
cohoon@embarqmail.com