5 - God Has a Future For Us

This series has been called, the reason for the season. And the answer is ‘Jesus’.

But that’s what Christmas is about - Jesus being born.

But what about beyond that? When we leave the Christmas season, the manger scene - what’s up next?

See, we can answer the question, ‘why christmas?’. That’s easy. But even to the key people in the story - Zechariah & elizabeth, mary and joseph - their WHY was God’s plan.

Zechariah & Elizabeth - why = John would make straight paths.

Mary & Joseph - why = their son would be the son of God, and change everything.

So, I felt that God wanted to end off the ‘why Christmas?’ unit with a different question - ‘Now what?’

Luke 23:32–43 NIV

Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

So, sidebar:

Jesus knew why He had come to be born on earth

Jesus knew the goal, he knew the plan.

John 12:27–28 NIV

“Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”

Jesus was able to face a terrible death - because He trusted in his father, and he knew that there was a plan.

Mary & Joseph were able to work with an unplanned baby before their marriage - because God had a divine plan for their child.

They were able to pick up and leave home, to protect their family - because God had a plan for their child.

What are God’s plans for your hurdles?

Because He has one for you, for sure. 100%.

Romans 8:28 NIV

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Another way of saying this is, ‘the people who love God and want to follow him - who are on the path of his plan - God will use anything for good’.

What are God’s plans for your hurdles? Is he trying to make you stronger, or show you something new? Is he trying to shake bad things out of your life, or out of your heart? Is he trying to show you how faithful He is in the storm?

And if you don’t know - ask. Ask God to show you the next steps. Ask him to show you the WHY.

Back to the main point:

Jesus was born to bring salvation, freedom, and eternity

He saved us and he freed us.

But he didn’t stop there.

1 Corinthians 15:19–20 NIV

If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

Paul’s point is - we believe in the resurrection, we believe in life after death and eternity. But if we’re wrong about those things - nothing else matters.

If Jesus came, preached, fed, died, and stayed dead - nothing else matters. If that world-changing, death breaking power of God wasn’t poured out so that even death turned back at the cross - then this is all meaningless.

Christmas only makes sense with eternity on the horizon

Faith in Jesus only works knowing that God is out there, loving us, helping us, and weaving a massive story through human history to bring us all back to a perfect eternity with him.

It only works knowing and believing that our death isn’t the end - it’s the beginning of a new story in God, one where our ticket was bought with the blood of Christ.

And at Christmas, we recognize that

One new life paved the way for countless more new lives

STORY - Getting my son ready for dedication. Putting on his little tie. Wondering - what the future would hold.

At Christmas, we celebrate a little baby boy born 2000 years ago that changed everything.

But Jesus was the first born of a new set of people - those born again by their faith in Him. People who could now say that they stood before God forgiven and accepted, and they looked forward to a home in eternity with God.

And our new life in Christ - it’s forever.

Christmas is about God breaking the power of death itself, freeing us, giving us a life of eternity.

Then, Jesus was crucified, he was resurrected, and he ascended to be with the father. And

Christmas is about the never-ending Kingdom of God

When Jesus was born - he wasn’t just God’s son, or the messiah. He was the king above all kings coming into an eternal kingdom

Gabriel told Mary as much:

Luke 1:32–33 NIV

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

STORY - Sadie and Elizabeth LOVE babies.

I’m sure baby Jesus was adorable. But God didn’t send him into the world for us to coo and go ‘aww, cute little baby’. This is our king, our God, our saviour.

Christmas is about how God won

Revelation 21:1–4 NIV

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Christmas was the beginning of the end - the end of pain, of mourning, of crying, of death itself. Christmas was when God reached into the world, exerted his great power - and He won. He’s the victorious king.

And one day, if we believe in God and follow Him - one day we will stand in new bodies that will never feel pain or death, in a city built for us by God himself, and we will see God face to face.

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So as you go about celebrating Christmas, just remember.

Christmas is about how God wanted to be with us.

It’s about how God wanted to help us.

It’s about how God wanted to save us and free us.

And it’s about how God has an amazing future for us.

So when you celebrate, recognize that God has done all these amazing things for you.

And if you haven’t accepted this gift yet - you’re welcome to start now!