Gtcotr/ss012923
1 ¶ “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe
in God, believe also in Me.
2 “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it
were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
On January 12, 2007, a man named Joshua Bell placed a bag in front of him in a New York City subway station into which passers-by would be able to give money while he played is violin. During the next 41 minutes more than 1,000 people walked past him mostly without notice. By the end of his 6th piece he had received a total of $32.17, but no one stopped to listen.
(Picture of Joshua Bell in concert)
Joshua Bell was not just any busker but rather he is one of the most famous classical concert violinist in the world. Just a week before he had played the very same pieces to a sold-out theater, where fans who spent hundreds of dollars each to hear him, applauded and cheered in hopes to hear more. The 1793 Gibson Stratovarius Violin he played in the concert hall was the very same $3.5 million violin he played in the subway.
(Picture of Joshua Bell playing during his first visit to the NYC subway)
Joshua’s incognito baseball cap and t-shirt clad presentation of himself blended in with the locals who traveled the subway that morning in 2007 and perhaps he just didn’t stand out as much as he could have. His subway performance was still that of a virtuoso even though others didn’t notice.
Seven years later Joshua Bell decided to go back to the same subway station only this time he announced he was coming again. Not a surprise really to anyone was the fact that when Joshua showed up this time, dressed a little better, with others accompanying him, the station was packed with people hoping to see him, hear him, and get a chance to meet him.
(Picture of the second trip to the station)
People crowded in, shoulder to shoulder, some getting there hours before and sitting on the floor against the walls holding their spot. Cameras everywhere and although Joshua played the same violin and music, this time it was different. What made the difference … people knew who he was, and this was their chance to see him personally; hear him personally; and maybe get to meet him personally. They were no longer too busy to stop and listen.
The principles of truth revealed and confirmed by this experiment parallels the first and second coming of Jesus Christ. God uses life to teach us eternal realities. We can easily see that the first time Jesus came to earth, He came looking just like everyone else. Though He was the Son of Almighty God, empowered with abilities far beyond those the common man could comprehend, still few had time to stop their busy lives and listen to Him.
However, this same Jesus who came to earth the first time as a suffering servant without any claim to greatness in the eyes of man, has announced to all of us that He is coming again. This time He will come in all of His glory along with the Holy Angels who accompany Him. There is not a doubt in my mind that it will be a crowded event, some waiting lifetimes to see, to hear, to meet the Christ, the Savior of their souls.
Every day people walk past their greatest opportunity, too busy to stop and listen, stop and see, stop and meet Jesus, the one and only Son of God.
Opportunities missed may forever be regretted.
There was a man named Zacchaeus in the New Testament who had only one opportunity to meet Jesus. He was a very important and busy tax collector in the city of Jericho. That day Jesus would be passing through his town for the very last time. In the midst of a busy day, and although Zacchaeus was a notorious sinner who had robbed the poor and cheated his neighbors, he had a desire to see Jesus.
Jesus
noticed Zacchaeus and even called him by name saying to him, “I am going to
your house today!” Zacchaeus made the most of his opportunity that day. If he
would not have followed that voice in his heart, that God-given desire to see
Jesus, he would have forever regretted it. He did not let his opportunity pass
by to give his life and his all to Christ.
What
opportunities are you allowing to pass by without notice each day?
·
An
opportunity to know your children or grandchildren
·
An
opportunity to spend time with your parents
·
An
opportunity to share Christ with a neighbor, co-worker, or classmate
· An opportunity to make Jesus the Lord of your life and invite Him home with you
3 John 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.
But
the sad truth is: Not everyone will go to heaven … many will miss their
greatest opportunity.
·
Have
you seen Jesus?
·
Have
you heard Jesus?
· Have you met Jesus?
You can meet Him personally today. Allow me to introduce you to Him. He is the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, and the Savior of my soul.
Sadly, not everyone will go to heaven. You get to go to heaven because you choose to. Choose to believe in Jesus and ask Him into your heart today. It’s the greatest opportunity of your life.
John 14 NKJV
1 ¶ “Let not your heart be
troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
2 “In My Father’s house are
many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to
prepare a place for you.
3 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
The
only guarantee we have is that Jesus is coming again. He has prepared a place
for you in His heaven … have you prepared a place for Him in your heart?
