Monday, December 14th, 2009

An Awful or Wonderful Silent Night?

During the Christmas season, we hear a lot of Christmas carols. But one of the most popular is, “Silent Night.” And not just for Christians, but for all Americans.

I was amazed when I went online and found it’s been performed by everyone from the Vienna Boys Choir to Willie Nelson, from Nat King Cole to Neil Diamond, from Johnny Cash to Josh Groban, from Bing Crosby to Boyz2Men.It’s a very popular song.

And to tell the truth, it’s one of my favorites. But even though it’s a popular song, have you ever thought about the words? Was it really a silent night? The night, of course, refers to the night of Jesus’ birth. And for those of you who remember your first baby’s birth, “Was it that silent?”

Remember Mary went into labor that night. And as far as I know most of us wouldn’t characterize childbirth with words like “mild” or “calm” or “silent.” And most newborns aren’t very good at sticking to noise curfews either, are they? Then you add a stable of barnyard animals, and it’s somewhat difficult to believe that it was really a silent night.Maybe it wasn’t really a silent night.

And yet all of us this Christmas want a silent night. And I don’t just mean that the neighbor kid would turn down his music.  I’m referring to the silent night of your soul. “Does your soul feel safe at night? Do you sleep in heavenly peace? What if you passed away in your sleep? Where would you go?

When I was kid I prayed “Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray thee Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake I pray thee Lord my soul to take.”

I was praying for a silent night. That I could rest secure. That I could sleep knowing my soul was safe.

Do you know if you died tonight, that your soul would be safe? Do you sleep in heavenly peace?

In this sermon, we’ll look at three silent nights that will answer these questions.