As I write this, I have just returned from preaching the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where nearly 7,000 people surrendered their lives to the Lord, confessing their sins and trusting in Christ alone as their Savior.
After all these years when God has given us wonderful opportunities to proclaim Christ crucified, buried and risen, I am still amazed at the ways the same Gospel message affects different hearers. When I give the invitation to receive Christ and look out over the crowd, I see some people with tears streaming down their faces as they come forward, and others standing with their arms crossed and their jaws set, refusing to budge.
I can only explain it as the supernatural working of the Holy Spirit convicting hearers of God’s Word and bringing them by His grace to repentance and faith. Salvation is always the work of God in the hearts of men. Like Lydia in the New Testament who heard the Apostle Paul’s message, the Lord opens their hearts to believe (Acts 16:14).
Human pride makes many stiffen their necks—“they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved” (2 Thessalonians 2:10). They simply will not bow their knees before our Lord and King, Jesus Christ.
As Christmas is upon us, we know that Jesus was born in a stable, not only as the Savior of the world, but as the King promised long ago to Abraham’s seed in Genesis 17:6 and in Isaiah’s memorable prophecy 700 years before Jesus’ birth: “For unto us a Child is born, … and the government will be upon His shoulder. … Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom … the zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this” (Isaiah 9:6-7).
The Magi who came from the East to worship baby Jesus inquired of King Herod: “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him” (Matthew 2:2).
Jesus was King at birth, He is King today and He will be King tomorrow. Jesus regularly proclaimed the Kingdom of God because He was and is the King whose Kingdom knows no end and rules over all creation.
This is the hope of Christmas. As the Apostle Paul wrote: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:5-11).
Remember that when you receive Christ as your Savior, you are also inviting Him to be the Lord and King of your life. He deserves your wholehearted allegiance, devotion and obedience. He is worthy of our unceasing worship and praise. Your loyalty is now to the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for you, shedding His blood for the forgiveness of your sins, and who reigns in your heart through the Holy Spirit. He is the Master; you are His servant. He commands; we obey.
All the succession of kings in the Old Testament were but a preview of the arrival of the True King, the Lord Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah. “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting” (Micah 5:2).
And one day very soon—and I do believe it will be soon—Jesus will return on a white steed to judge all who have rejected Him. The Bible tells us His eyes will be flaming like fire, His head will wear many crowns, and His robe will be dipped in the blood of His enemies. Riding with Him will be the armies of Heaven. On that day, there will be no mistaking or denying Him. “And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:16).
I am reminded of the lyrics in the hymn “O Worship the King”: “O worship the King all-glorious above, O gratefully sing His power and His love: our shield and defender, the Ancient of Days, pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.”
Worship the King—Jesus of Nazareth, Son of God, Son of Man, Creator, Redeemer, Savior—this Christmas and bow your heart and knee before Him. Christ is on His throne, ruling over all. May He rule in your heart forever.
