Merry Christmas, Misfits

Happy Sunday, and Merry Christmas! I can say that now. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving. I love this time of year; I love telling the reason for the season. Thank you for joining me today.

I am 63 years old, and this year I will watch Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. I have as long as I can remember, and I love watching them. Do you recall the song from Rudolph, "We're a Couple of Misfits"? Rudolph and Hermie sang the song. They were on the Island of Misfit Toys.

It's a place where you would go if you didn't quite fit in. Rudolph had a red nose, and Hermie the elf wanted to be a dentist. King Moon racer was a lion with wings, and there was a Charlie in the box, and a spotted elephant, and a cowboy who rode an ostrich, and a train with square Caboose Wheels. The older I get, the more I feel like a misfit. I probably should explain that, shouldn't I?

Let me use the words from first Peter 2:11 and 12. "Dear friends, I warn you as temporary residents and foreigners to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very Souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors, and then, even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to the God when he judges the world."

In this world, as a Christian, we don't quite fit in, and we shouldn't. Verse 11 says that we are temporary residents and foreigners in this world.

There was a story in 2016 from Laconia, Minnesota that I have saved. Bob Sajak was known in his neighborhood because of his Christmas light display. He had hundreds of thousands of Lights in his yard and on his house, and all of them were synchronized to music. People would come from far and wide to see his handiwork.

In 2016 he discontinued the tradition. Why? A neighbor, one neighbor, complained. Most late neighbors love the display, but one did not appreciate the traffic and the noise. So Bob made a decision to not put up the lights that year because of one neighbor.

Let me read you a quote from Bob: "Faith, hope, and love, that's what Christmas is all about, and I think fighting for our display violated what I was brought up to believe." Bob Sajak is a misfit, and that's a compliment. He does not belong in this world; he's a citizen of Heaven.

You know, there's an Earthly part of me that would want to get spotlights and shine them at that neighbor's house, to turn up the volume of the music, and maybe add some fireworks as part of the tradition. But then I remember what Jesus came for. He came to show me that there's another world. He came to show me that there is another kingdom.

The first two chapters of Matthew tell us about the birth of Jesus, and we'll probably look at that in the days ahead. In chapter three we find that 30 years have passed, and Jesus is beginning his public Ministry. He comes to his cousin John the Baptist to be baptized in chapter 3. In chapter 4, Jesus is tempted in the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights, and after that, look what we are told in Matthew 4:17.

"From that time on Jesus began to preach and say, repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." Yes, there is another kingdom. Jesus lived and preached that message for the next three years. When he was turned over to be Tried by pilate, right before he was killed, Jesus said this, and I'll read from John 18:36 and 37.

"Jesus said, my kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here. Pilot asked him, so you're a king? And Jesus answered, you say that I am a king. For this is I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth, and everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."

The truth is, we as Christians should be Misfits. We just don't belong. Hebrews 13:14 tells us, "For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come." I'm looking forward to that home.

Let me tell you about some Misfits that I have met along the way. My father was a misfit. Years ago, 1970 something, my father was left a very large estate, millions of dollars. The most current will was very clear: dad got every penny.

Family members of the deceased had an old will that they produced. My father backed away. A judge called my brother, who had just started practicing law, and the judge told my brother that dad needed to fight. The law was on his side, and he would win handily.

Dad said no. He didn't want to be in a fight. He walked away from a lot of money. Why? There is another kingdom. My father was a misfit.

My friend Moses was a misfit. Listen to these words from Hebrews 11:24, 25, and 26. "It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose to share the oppression of God's people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward."

That's what Misfits do. There is another kingdom. Merry Christmas, and I pray you are a misfit in the best kind of way.

Pray with me. Father, as we are visitors in this world, and we belong to another kingdom, help us not to get caught up in the things going on around here the way we do. Help us to store our Treasures in Heaven. Help us to shine the light around the world of Darkness. Help us, father, to be Misfits in the best kind of a way. In Jesus name we pray, amen. Merry Christmas.