My Story

Greetings! My name is Joktan, and I have been a shepherd on the hills of Bethlehem. It was a clear, cool night, that night was...oh, you will stay for my story, will you? I want to tell it to as many people as possible!

It was a clear, cool night, that night was. The stars twinkled in the vast, endless sky, and I could hear the sheep's deep breathing as they slumbered the night away. The quiet, resting city of Bethlehem slept away, and hardly man or beast stirred.

Once again, I turned to my companions, Eber and Uzal. Eber brought out his treasured scroll, and once again we all searched the Scriptures. Just like every other Israelite, we were highly looking forward the the coming of Israel's Messiah and Deliverer. We had checked, checked, and double-checked our calculations, but tonight we checked once more. Yes, it seemed like all the prophecies pointed to the Promised One coming very soon. Micah 5:2 even said that Bethlehem, our little town, would be where the Messiah would come from!

I took another long, longing look at the sky. The stars glistened just as brightly as always. Somewhere out there was God. But when would He come to Earth? Then--

Huh? What was that?

A light seemed to hover right above us shepherds. It quickly got brighter, brighter and brighter till it was brighter than the midday sun! I could hardly look at it! What was it? The light became more defined, and then it looked like--huh? An angel? Eber, Uzal, and I were petrified, falling on our faces to the ground.

"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people."

The angel--what a magnificent  majestic voice he had--continued speaking.

"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord."

The booming voice kept on speaking. I barely got enough courage to lift my eyes to look at this heavenly being.

"This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly, night transformed into day! Angels, millions upon millions, brilliantly lit up the sky and sang,

"Glory to God in the highest,
  and on earth peace to men on
         whom his favor rests."

My, my, that was the most beautiful chorus I have ever heard! Tons of angels singing, there was no doubt this was heavenly music! Soon, the angel choir faded away. Slowly, carefully, Eber, Uzal, and I got up. Our eyes had to get used to the dark night again! Quickly, we took inventory. All the sheep were still there. The hills of Bethlehem were in their same place, and the town slept on.

All of a sudden, we spurted out words. "Let's go to Bethlehem," I cried. "and see this thing that has happened," continued Uzal. "which the Lord has told us about!" Eber joyously finished our joint sentiments.

Taking a look at our snoring, slumbering sheep, we took off running over hill and dale--bound for Bethlehem. Rocks, streams, nothing could get in our way. The Messiah had come! He was born this night here in Bethlehem! Angels told us how to find Him! Dawn was just starting to break in the east as we arrived at the city gates, which had just been opened a few moments before. Most people were still sound asleep, but we dashed through the streets to the inn, where we found the Messiah--the Baby Jesus--lying in a manger just like the angel had said. There we met His parents, Joseph and Mary, and joined in their happiness. Eagerly, we reverently worshipped our Messiah.

We had seen the Messiah! He was born, the Desire of All Nations! He had finally come! We felt like we must tell everyone. The sun was starting to shine on Bethlehem once more, and the townspeople had roused themselves out of bed. Some had come out of their houses.

"The Messiah is born!" I shouted.

"He has come to deliver His people!" Uzal chimed in.

"We saw angels who told us that He is born in a manger!" Eber concluded. "Go see Him at the inn!"

We repeated our joyous cries all across town, and everyone was amazed at our report. After proclaiming the good news to everyone, we headed back to our sheep, which had just started to stir.

But I have some questions for you. Are you getting ready for Jesus' second coming? Do you study your Bible, and learn about His coming? Just like His first coming, you don't know when exactly He will come. But you can know the general circumstances and situation which the world will be in when His coming is soon.

When God sends special revelation to you--through an impression, the Bible, trusted friend, though probably not an angel--do you listen? Do you believe what God tells you? He is always trustworthy, and will never forsake you (Deut. 31:6)!

When God reveals information to you, what will you do with it? Will you just barely acknowledge it, think it's nice, and lay back in your lazy chair? Or will you get off the couch and do something about it? Will you do the equivalent of going to see Baby Jesus? Will you decide to worship Him as your Lord, Savior, and Messiah?

After you worship Him, will you just immediately go back to your "sheep"? In Israel there are two prominent bodies of water, and one river that connects them. The bodies of water are the Sea of Galilee in the north and the Dead Sea in the south. The river, called Jordan, flows into the Sea of Galilee in the north and continues out of it at the south end, going through Israel all the way to the Dead Sea. However, that is where the Jordan River stops. It does not flow out of the Dead Sea, and that is why the Dead Sea is called that--because it's dead!

It's wonderful if you decide to worship and accept the King into your life, but that's only one part. You have the input, but unless you have output, you'll be like the Dead Sea--lifeless. In what ways can you share the news about Jesus, and have output as well as input?

Be like the Sea of Galilee. Not like the Dead Sea!