The Permanent and the Passing
by Rev Bill Bathman
Matt 2: 11-23

The Wise Men returned but the Christ Child remained. And, all the angels, Shepherds and the others, returned. Simeon died, Anna died but Christ remained.

The 24hours known as Christmas Day passes by and all visitors and relatives return. Yet, Christ remains. Christmas decorations come down but Christ remains.

WITH WHOM ARE YOU IDENTIFIED? With the permanent or the passing?

Luke tells us in 2:1 and 3:1 about the powerful political leaders of that day. They were famous then but uknowns now. We only know them because of their connection to the Babe.

* Caesar Augustus couldn't be bothered about news of a babe, born in a remote corner of his wide empire.

* Frederick of Saxony (Prince of Germany), and Leo X were not bothered, to start with, by an unknown monk called Martin Luther. They belonged to the passing but Luther to the permanent.

* King Henry VIII couldn't be bothered by a presbyterian minister north of his border called John Knox.

* The great Marajahs of India ignored the arrival of a little boat carrying William Carey.

SOME OF THESE NAMES, THOUGH FAMOUS IN THEIR DAY, BELONGED TO THE PASSING, BUT MEN OF GOD BELONGED TO THE PERMANENT.

Who do you belong to? Who do you identify with? All the great names of today will pass away and only God's kingdom and His Christ will remain.