Hardwired with Jeff Wickwire

Jesus was born into an extremely difficult time in Jewish history. Under Roman occupation, the Hebrew people had very little freedom, and that freedom could be stripped away with one word from Caesar Augustus. But Pastor Jeff reminds us in today’s message that the birth of Jesus brought joy to those who encountered Him, because He represented the hope of a new Kingdom that would one day replace every kingdom of mankind! Jesus is a bright light that cuts through the darkness of the world.

We’ve heard how Jesus’ birth was miraculous and defied all sorts of human expectations for how the Messiah would come into this world. But what Pastor Jeff wants us to understand today is that just as Christ’s birth was miraculous, His death on the cross was brutal and barbaric. But yet, we read in God’s Word that Jesus willingly surrendered Himself to this fate, because He knew that His sacrifice of pain and death would make a way for all of those who call on Him to be saved from sin.

Look at the richest and most powerful people in today’s world. What are they doing besides trying to gain more power and riches for themselves? Pastor Jeff teaches you today that there is a difference between those who live in contentment with what God has given them and those who are consumed by the drive and desire for more. God wants you to be content and to realize that He will provide for your needs. Look back on your life up until this point, and think about how He has gotten you this far.

Sometimes when you’re in a stressful situation, the thing that helps you stop spiraling is to see the situation from a different angle. Getting a fresh perspective on the situation, either from consulting with a close friend or from mentally choosing a different approach, can ease your anxiety and give you new energy. Well, Pastor Jeff reminds you today that God has the ultimate vantage point, and He can show you the kind of perspective shift to give you a hopeful view of life.

There was nothing ordinary about Jesus’ birth. From the immaculate conception to the circumstances that led Mary to give birth in a stable for animals, Jesus came into this world as the result of many miracles. Pastor Jeff wants us to realize that the miracles surrounding Jesus’ birth help highlight Him as the Son of God, the Messiah that humanity had been waiting for. Christmas isn’t just a day to open presents and sing carols; it’s a time to celebrate the night that God took on human form!

How different would things be if you didn’t get second chances? What if every crime were punishable by life imprisonment? What if you only got one strike in baseball before you were out? Sometimes, second chances are a chance to grow and learn from your mistakes, but there are some things you only get one swing at! Pastor Jeff reminds you today that you only have one soul, and there are only two places where that soul will go after death. You need to take the fate of your soul extremely seriously.

We live in a world that desperately needs a source of hope. The problem is that every time we put our hope in something manmade, we end up disappointed! This is a fallen world, and the things that we build for ourselves eventually crumble to dust. Pastor Jeff reminds us today that we have a responsibility to share a message of hope with the entire world! Jesus came to this world to bring hope to the hopeless, and we are empowered to share that hope with everyone we meet!

God rarely uses direct language to guide us in this life. Instead, He gently guides us in the way we should go, so that we can learn to recognize His will for our lives without even being told. Pastor Jeff teaches us today that when Joseph was told that it was safe to take his family back to Israel, he wasn’t told where to take them. But the Lord guided Joseph’s steps, and the family settled in Nazareth. If you are following God’s will for your life, you can be certain that He will bless the steps in front of you.

The story of humanity is permanently scarred by sin. Ever since Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, we have had to deal with sin, sickness, and death, as the beauty of God’s original creation decayed and fell into disorder. But Pastor Jeff reminds us that the hope we celebrate in this Christmas season is that Jesus has come to set us free! We are no longer condemned to punishment for our sin, but instead we have the opportunity to spend eternity in the presence of the Father.

Have you ever thought that thermodynamics can be an illustration of God’s creation? Well, the first law of thermodynamics states that energy can change forms, but it cannot be created or destroyed. Similarly, the book of Ecclesiastes teaches that mankind cannot add to or take away from God’s creation. Pastor Jeff encourages you to practice humility and recognize that all of humanity’s advancement and knowledge cannot take away from God’s glorious Creation.