The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1913-12-12

ception given to
him who came to be lsraers Messiah
and tho worlds Savior.
No room In the inn. liz there n
more pathetic sentence anywhere In
the Scriptures? The humble peas
ants who had come from Galilee and
who sought shelter In one OF the vii
lage caravanserai were denied this
privilege; so they both took shelter
In stable: and there Jesus was
born. No room for the King! Tho
pathos OF IL IL almost too deep for
words.
But that was always the answer
while Jesus was alive: he himself de-
scribed IL when no said Foxes have
holes and birds OF the air have nests.
but the Son OF Man hath not where
to lay his head. Misunderstood at
home. neglected by his friends, do
serted by his disciples. betrayed by
one OF them. aud cruclned by tho
rulers-Nazareth. Capernaum. Jerusa-
lem-no room for Jesus.
Through the centuries II has been
Auf Nailfs Nuhl IIbN ulkuN vi
was IA prophesy, for In spite OF apos-
ties. martyrs. saints and reformers
Jesus had not found room In relig-
ious, political. social or individual
spheres of life I'm the case OF the mil
lions who have gone on their way
either unheedng or Indifferent, %
the tragedy OF the centuries--no room
for Jesus. The Lord of all despised
by the many. The region OF outer
darkness is filed with those who said.
We will not have this one rule over
us; depart no room for the King!
Room for pleasure room for business
But for christ the cruclned,
Not place that he can enter,
In your heart for which he dledY'
No room for Jesus. II is true to-
day. Christ In not wanted, and the
Bethlehem story repeats itself In
the city life proof is found In tho
logalized saloon and all that goes
with II, I'm corrupt and Vicious governs
ment, In loose laws and looser enforce
ment, In dishonest business, In social
laxlty and impurlty. In many homes
evidence is seen In the character or
the books In the library. the picturcs
upon the walls. careless, ill-tem-
pered and profane language and con
versation. and the ungodly habits OF
parents and the irreverence and dis
obedience OF children He who came
20 make home life heaven has been
denied his piace.
And just as our knowledge about
this Jesus is greater than In that
time, 80 Is our responsibility heavier.
our shame deeper, our isln greater.
I'VE know him In all the light which
his word and which all subsequent
history cast upon him. We know him
too-and this is our weightiest re-
sponsibllity the claims which are
set up eternally by the Cross OF Cal
vary" What will we say to him In
the end?
What is wrong? Why do we keep
Christ out? Why are our hearts
closed against him? Is II oppositionr
No. not usually Let US look at
Bethlehem, for there is "A slight paral-
lei Any Jewish mother however
humble would have rejoiced at the
great honor which came TO Mary, and
any home however lowly would have
been made ready for Jesus. Any
ruler. rabbi or priest then in Bethle-
hem would have taken any step nee
known. But II was a time when every
available space was taken by pill
grims, these peasants did not look
like promising guests. people were
pre-occupied with what they consid-
cred weightier matters. and so liter
ally Christ was crowded out; even
In the public place. there was no room
In the inn-the inn was full.
Bethlehem will rise up and con-
denim US. II IL had known the day OF
it's visitation, room would have been
made for Jesus. he would have had
royal reception. But you know about
him. he has sent word TO you; he has
been waiting for place In your
heart. you know who he is and what
he will do for you, you have heard
the story OF his love and grace and
power, and still-no room for Jesus.
Behold ] stand at the door and
knock" VIII you not let him in?
said this text was the most pathetic
verse in the Bible but II is not 80
pathetic as the tragedy OF the men
and women OF today who are pre-
occupied with the world, the lesh and
The devil. and who In wllful and
culpable rejection crowd Christ out
,f their lives. who give themselves
over 10 the things OF time and sense.
Christ TO the stable. Come.
bow. and let US reason together.