U
&In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths&

"Friends In High Places"

[ Back to Article Titles Page ]  [ Back to Home Page ]

"Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord."  Jeremiah 9:23-24.  While celebrating the birth of the Saviour of the world, I was afforded the opportunity of spending some precious time with my family in watching some videos which we got our children for Christmas.  Though none of these movies were classified as Christian movies, they were all clean and decent movies, which in these times are hard to find.  And though none of these movies were about the Lord, He so blessed me with a Christmas story from the content of these movies.  And as I attempt to share this story with those who will read this little article, it is my prayer that the Lord will use it as a blessing to each of you.

I won't call the names of all these movies, but I will tell a little about them to show that though they were all different in their theme and subject, they all had at least one thing in common.  That one thing is pride or glory.  One of these movies was about a basketball team and a particular basketball team.  This basketball team was one of a small school in a small town in a state known for basketball.  This whole town, though they were small, was very serious about basketball and their basketball team.  The game of basketball and their team was indeed the top priority of this school and it's townspeople.

As the story went, the basketball team of this school and town became a very good team and made their way to the State Championships, and even went on to win the championship.  All through this story, as this team prospered and became great, there was a great deal of pride displayed.  And out of that pride came hatred for anyone or anything that got in the way.  The father of one of the players on this winning team was the town drunk.  And though this man had made a mess of his own life and brought much shame to his son, he bragged at every opportunity that this was his son.  Nothing else mattered to this man than the fact that his son had become a success and he would often say, "That's my boy" as if to say, "Out of my loins came this hero".  This man, though he was the town drunk and himself had nothing to be proud of, thought that by his son being a hero, he could glory in that he knew someone who had made it.  He had friends in high places.  And this town, though it was a small town with nothing going for it, thought that by their basketball team being winners, they too were winners.  They had friends in high places.

Another of these movies was about a man who was afraid of heights and whose father sent off an application for him to become an astronaut.  This man's father had led a life that was a lie in that he had led everyone to believe that he was a hero in the war when in reality, he had never left the United States and had been a librarian.  The man was hired by Nassau to be a janitor, but his father and the townspeople thought that he was going to be an astronaut.  The whole town was very proud of their hometown hero and the father was equally proud of his son.

The man who was to be an astronaut returned to his hometown to set everyone straight as to his real job.  But due to all the attention that was paid him, his own pride would not let him tell them that he was actually a janitor.  Upon his return to his hometown, he was met by a party celebrating the hero they all were so proud of.  At this party, it was mentioned over and over that, "There he was, so and so's son, the astronaut".  There was even one lady present at the party who mentioned many times that she had changed his didy, which was her word for diaper.  Again, this was a small town with nothing to be proud of and nothing that they could glory over.  And again, a hero arose and the pride of mankind took control and everyone gloried in the success of another.  They had a friend in high places.

Now my friends, let me tell you a true story.  This too is a story of a group of people who are failures with nothing that they can glory in. This group of people is also full of pride and like the ones in the movies I have just described, they too were in desperate need of a hero to glory in.  The group of people I'm speaking of is mankind.  That's me my friend, and it's you.  On our own, we are all such miserable failures and we have absolutely nothing that we can be proud of.

It's true that some have attained great wisdom and some have attained great power and some have attained great riches, but none of these things are anything for us to glory in.  Now, I have never attained any of these things and I don't personally know any great basketball players or any astronauts or anyone really that the world would consider a hero.  But I am so happy my friend, to say that I have friends in high places.  We here at my house have just celebrated His birthday and it is He who this story is about.

The story goes: "And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)  And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.  And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)  To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.  And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 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.  And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.  And the angel siad unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly hosts praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.  And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.  And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.  And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.  And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.  But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.  And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them."  Luke 2:1-20.

My friend, that is the true story of the hero this world needs and the only One in Whom we can glory.  There are indeed many things this world finds to glory in and yet they are all vain.  There are those who seek a hero in all others, except the only true Saviour of the world, but they will all surely fail.  You will notice that in this story, the word glory is mentioned several times.  You will also notice that every time this word is mentioned, it is ascribed to God.  Friend, that little babe wrapped in those swaddling clothes was and is God.  You will also notice that the glory spoken of was never ascribed to Mary, the mother of Jesus. No, although there are many who ascribe much glory and even worship Mary, she is worthy of none.  You will notice near the end of the story that God's Word says, "But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart."  Mary could have, as the lady in the story about the astronaut bragged that, "I changed His didy".  She could have said, "I changed God's diaper."  Isn't that an awesome thought?  But no, she pondered those things in her heart.  You see, Mary realized that she was a sinner in need of a Saviour just as much as anyone.  No, her only glorying was in that she understood and that she knew the Lord.  What was it that Mary understood?  I'm glad you asked.  She understood that she was a sinner in need of a Saviour.  And by understanding that, she indeed had friends in high places.

Have you pondered these things in your heart?  Have you come to realize that you too are a sinner in need of a Saviour?  If so, have you received Him as your own personal Saviour?  If you have not, you can do so right now, this very minute, before it is eternally too late.  You will notice near the middle of the story of Christ's birth, God's Word says, "And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  If you realize that you are a sinner in need of a Saviour, all you have to do to receive Him into your heart is to confess to God that you are lost and that you believe that Jesus died for you.  If you do this and ask God to forgive you of your sins, His Word says that He will forgive you and that you will become His child.  God bless you.