Can I have your attention please!

Recently I was traveling from Kissimmee Florida to Indianapolis Indiana to attend the International Conference on Missions. As I traveled up Interstate 75, I was amazed at the number of billboards along the highway, as well as the vast array of messages on the advertisements. In Florida I was constantly reminded of the "World Famous Ron Jon's Surf Shop"  and there were cheap Disney tickets to be had if I would stop in and take a tour of some resort along the way. In Georgia I was invited to try pecans & sweet vidalia onions and to stop at "King Frog", In Tennessee I was told I had to see Rock City, Lookout Mountain and the Chattanooga Choo-Choo. Kentucky reminded me to stop in Cave City and see Mammoth Caves and the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green. There was also an abundance of signs that read; Strippers; need we say more" (I had to wonder what young parents were thinking about as they saw the "stripper" signs - and if their children in the back seats of the SUV's wanted to know about the strippers). 

Now regardless of the messages, each sign had one thing in common; they were trying to get my attention. Some messages were inviting, some were provocative, but they were all trying to get my attention as I traveled along the way.  

Everyday we are bombarded with messages trying to get our attention, Buy this, you need this, we will help you with this or that - everyone is telling us we need to have their product or service. Over the next few weeks merchants will be trying to get our attention as they offer sales, rebates and perks all to entice each of us to buy that special gift.

Two thousand years ago, God was trying to get our attention as well, but He did not use billboards or products or services. Instead God simply sent his son to an obscure town known as Bethlehem. For the last 2,000 years He has been calling us back to Him through His son. Unfortunately like the billboards along the interstate other things are trying to get our attention as well. As we celebrate the Christmas season let us remember while there are many things that will scream for our attention this year, only one thing deserves our attention this Christmas season; Jesus Christ.