In 2005. In an old home in Baton Rouge, there was a picture that hung on the wall. It was a distorted picture because there had been years and years of, of painting over this picture by a variety of different artists. It looked like it dated back into the Renaissance Basil Hendry had actually inherited it from his aunt who had paid $72 for the painting at an estate sale. When he died. None of the family wanted the picture. In fact, it looked a little creepy and so they just put it in the estate auction and let it go. The painting was taken to a painting conservatory in New York City to be restored. And as the layers of old paint were removed with acetone, the original work of art appeared before their eyes to their amazement. It was the last lost known work of Leonardo da Vinci, the Salvador Mundy or Savior of the World. They had sketches of the painting from Leonardo da Vinci, the the great master himself of hands or the globe, but they didn't have a full picture of the painting in just a few years. The painting would be sold for the highest priced painting in the history of the world. $450 million when the distorted picture was restored, its value was made known to the world. The value of the painting was directly related to its creator and the price that someone was willing to pay for it. Some people have distorted this view of Jesus, the savior of the world. But John chapter one gives us a very clear picture of who He is. I hope you'll turn with me there in your word of scripture to John chapter one as we walk through this together. But in John chapter one, we see that Jesus is creator, we see that He is savior. But ultimately, we see that He is God himself. In John chapter one, the scripture reads this in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. He was with God. In the beginning through Him, all things were made without him. Nothing was made that has been made in Him was life and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. John writes his gospel to parallel the beginning of Genesis. You may have picked up on some of the language in Genesis chapter one in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty. Darkness was over the surface of the deep and the spirit of God was hovering over the waters. Both of these words, one in Hebrew, one in, in Greek, both give the connotation of the very breath of God. This Ruak from the Hebrew, this Lagos from the Greek that we see in this, in this context that the very breath of God is breathing into creation and even into the incarnate Christ. This is a profound difference by the way, this idea that Jesus is not created, but he is creator. It's a profound difference in every other religion in the world and what they think about who Jesus is. Jehovah's witness and Mormons believe that Jesus was created by God because of the terminology God's Son. But the very word God's Son really means essence of God, not created by God to be the Son. Sometimes the analogy breaks down for us. When we think Father and Son Muslims would believe that he was a prophet or a great teacher. Hindus would believe that he is just one of many gods. But in Hebrews chapter 13 verse eight, the scripture is Jesus is the same yesterday today and forever. He is unchanging in Colossians. 115. It, it reemphasizes this and Paul writes the son is the image of the invisible God, the first born over all creation. For in Him, all things were created things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether Thrones or powers or rulers or authorities all things have been created through him and for him, he is before all things and in him, all things hold together. Here's a flash bulletin for you. The story ain't about you. Now, I know some of you young people in here have just shattered your dreams because your grandparents have made you feel like you're like king and queen of the castle and that you're number one. But I'm here to tell you that you're not the center of the universe. Uh You are not him as the meme would say at the end of the day, I I know this is shocking but, but the planet you live on isn't even in the center of your own solar system. You your, your galaxy, this milky way galaxy. It is just one of many and you're not even in the center of that. I mean, it needs to be reiterated that there's someone else that is the central figure of the story that God himself is the central and lead character of the story in Psalm chapter eight. It says, oh Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all of the earth? And in verse three, it says when I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have set in place. What is man that you are mindful of him and the son of man that you care for him. You are not the star of the show. Now, me, however, I'm kind of a big deal. I don't like to talk about this much but I was in a major motion picture and, uh, you probably seen the movie, it was a Blockbuster hit the movie radio. I, uh, in fact, I had a, uh, a lead role in that. It was a story of a high school coach who befriended a man who had special needs and Cuba Goody Junior, he played the part of, of uh radio minor part, Ed Harris. He, he played the role of the coach. Um and, uh, and my role was pretty important. I was part of the 10,000 that were sitting in the stands. Now many would call them extras. But on that day, I got called up to the big leagues and became a specialty extra. In fact, I got to be the assistant coach for West Side when they were playing in the game in the movie. So I went and got my wardrobe. I reported to the field. The director informed me that there would be no lines that I would have to memorize unfortunately, but I would have to react to the interception that happened on the field. And I would have to, uh, just kind of figure out like what would a coach do during that time. And so I just kind of thought through that and I said, I said, you know, a coach would run along beside the guy all the way to the goal line because that would probably get him in the movie. And, and so I reacted, I ran down the sidelines. I knew the camera was on the guy intercepting the ball. And so when the movie came out of the theaters, I got all of my friends and I said, hey, we're, we're going to see this movie that I start in. And so the scene came and I said, hey, here it is, guys get ready. This is going to be incredible. This is going to be incredible. You just watch the coach on the silence. So he intercepts the ball, he begins to run. They, they cut and went to Cuba Gooding Junior on the sidelines who threw his hat and then they cut back at the guy celebrating in the end zone and I was completely cut out of the film. I mean, I was mortified. I mean, my name wasn't even in the credits and, and yes, I did stick around to check. However, if you rent the DVD and the extended footage, there is the scene and if you pause it, there's a blur in the background that I like to think is me. Huh? Listen, sometimes we have just too lofty of a view of ourselves, don't we? I mean, this is an epic story that's been being written for thousands of years for us in humanity. And we get such a small blip on the screen despite how many likes you get on social media. Jesus is the star of the show, the creator of the universe. We have such a minor role in the plot that it could be perceived as meaningless. It could actually get you depressed if you start thinking about it. Jesus however, created us to have a part in the story. Jesus is creator, the lead character in the story and he invites you into that story. He saves you from a life of meaningless. And so we see that Jesus is our savior in verse nine, as we skip over a section where this character named John is actually bringing witness. He's embedded in the story. This John the Baptist in, in verses six through eight. Here we, we see this story kind of unfold and all of a sudden this guy John, this prophet, this John the Baptist that we've heard about in the past in Sunday school, this crazy guy that ate locust and everything else and, and he's preaching in the wilderness and he himself was not the light, but he came only as a witness to the light. And so embedded in the story is this guy John. It says that he was a man who was sent from God. His name was John. I just wonder if you are embedded in that story, like what role you play in this story? Because God saves you from that meaningless life. And in verse nine, we see the true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world. And though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him yet. To all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name. He gave the right to become Children of God. Children, born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or husband's will. But born of God. Jesus wants to be intimately involved in creation. He is active in creation. He didn't just spin the world on the top and then step back and see how the cards would fall. This is also different. Jesus wants to be known and he wants to know you in relationship, relationship as close as a child is to his father. Yesterday was a great day for me. I've got three or four boys and, uh, my wife of 20 something years. Uh, I'm kidding. It's my 25th wedding anniversary. This year is 25 years. I can't believe she stayed. So, so if you want to get to know her, you can read Proverbs 31. It's a really good story about her. Ah, some of you have read the Bible anyway. So we have three boys. I do have 1/4 in the, in the, in the family as well that we unofficially adopted into it. We all got together yesterday at my son's first football game. He's on the inaugural football team for Anderson University. They had their first big black and gold scrimmage game. We got to go and sit and watch and Caden drove in. He was actually in the Palmetto Collective uh retreat this weekend which is a uh incubator for missionaries in college. And he came in and Rakeem who we adopted into our family that was in poverty, who was first in his family to graduate from college and first in his family to go to uh to finish college. And he was at Miami Ohio super football player, went to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a short period of time. And then we've got a little guy named Quarter who I honestly ii, I thought we had an empty nest after we pushed this last one out. And then when on the way home, there was a voice in the back seat and he said, hey, dad, I'm still here. He's 12 years old. I said, what's your name, son? Who, who are you anyway? He's 12 years old anyway. We all got together and it's just fun. I mean, like, listen, if you've got teenagers, you know, you gotta work hard at it to have a relationship with them. If you're a parent, you, you know, even if it's a grandparent, you gotta like put yourself in their life, but you long to have a relationship with your kids. God wants to be in relationship with you He wants to save you from bringing a child of wrath, which is what Ephesians chapter two says you are and He wants to bring you into the adopted family, is a child of Him. God wants to be in relationship with you. He, he walked with Adam and Eve in the garden. He walked in the fire with Shara Miach and a Bendigo. He walked with the disciples on earth and ultimately died on a cross, was buried in a tomb and rose from the grace so that you would have the right to become Children of God. He wants to walk with you. And some of you need to know that despite what you have done when I said before that you're not the center of the story you that you didn't even argue. You were like, no, I'm not, I'm, I'm probably not even in the story. The things that I've done II I don't know how God could ever even love me. And what I want you to understand about this truth is that no matter how far you think you are from God, how alone you feel He is closer to you than your very breath. He wants to adopt you into the family. He wants to save you from your sin. Your picture is on his refrigerator. He knows everything about you and he still loves you. Just the same. There's an identity crisis going on in our country. Your identity is not defined by your career, your earthly family, your social status, your 401k, your mistakes or who you were physically attracted to your identity is found in Christ and Christ alone. And if you try to find your identity in anything else and stay in the level and world of being a child of wrath, you will never be satisfied. You are either a believing, adopted member of the royal family or you are a lost son or daughter of the king. Your value is directly related to your creator and the price that he was willing to pay for you. And so as we think about Leonardo Da Vinci, the most famous painting of him is the Mona Lisa. Some of you may have heard of the Mona Lisa. And when I was in Paris, France and we were doing mission work, we actually went into the louver and began to kind of experience the culture there in Paris. And we, and we stood in line and we waited because of all the hype of this picture about Mona Lisa. I said, who is Mona? Nobody knows really? I mean, at the end of the day, it's just a painting from a guy who's who's pretty famous. And so I'm expecting a big huge, spectacular work of art. And I walk in and this painting is 2 ft by 3 ft. It's actually a little, uh it's a little bit of a letdown, especially after all the hype and the buzz I mean, you almost even walk, walk right by it. If it wasn't for this crowd, taking a picture of her. And every time you do, every time you walk into the loo, every time you look at Mona Lisa and take a picture, you turn your back on Jesus quite literally because on the back wall is this picture. Now, this picture is the wedding of Canaan. This picture at the center of this picture is Jesus himself and it's a pretty big deal. It's 22 ft by 33 ft. Like that's a work of art to me. Like that's huge. And when I turned around and saw it, I was like, I was drawn into it like it was life size pictures of these guys. And this is how big this thing is. And I can't tell you how many people I've talked to that went to see the Mona Lisa that never knew that was on the back wall. You see, I wonder how many of you have turned your back on Jesus when he has open arms to accept you? Because you stare at things that are hype and buzz on the internet or social media or you get distracted on things that you think will make your life great. Jesus is your creator. He would be your savior if he becomes your God. And so the third truth I want you to know from John chapter one is that Jesus is God in verse 14, the word became flesh. Remember the word was God. In verse one, the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only who came from the father full of grace and truth. John testified concerning Him. He cried out saying this is the one I spoke about when I said, he who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me. Out of his fullness, we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God but the one and only son who is himself God and is and closest relationship with the father has made him known. Isaiah writes about him centuries before he ever came for to us. A child is born to us. A son is given and the government will be on his shoulders and he will be called wonderful counselor, mighty God everlasting father, Prince of peace. John writes about him in his return in chapter 11 of of 19 in revelation, I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse whose rider is called faithful and true with justice. He judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood and his name is the word of God. The armies of heaven were following him riding on a white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean out of his mouth. Comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty on his robe and on his thigh. He has the name written king of kings and Lord of Lords. Jesus is king of kings and Lord of Lords. He is the word of God. He is God Almighty. He is the great I am. He is the creator and the judge of all creation. He is not your homeboy. He is not your therapist. Jesus is God Muhammad died and did not get back up, Buddha died and did not get back up Confucius died and did not get back up. Joseph Smith died and did not get back up. But Jesus, he created you. He pursued you. He died for you. He was buried and on the third day, he defeated death and rose from the grave. And now he sits at the right hand of the Father, judging all of humanity and gives you the right to become a child of God. He is God himself in the flesh. He's the central figure of the story. He's the writer of the epic film. He is creator. He is savior, he is God. And he will come back the question today. Is he, is he your savior? And is he your God? I was in Hollywood, California. This summer, I went with eight college students to serve people in L A on skid row and in the subways, literally pulling people off the street. You funded them and might not have been known about it. These eight college students, part of the palmetto collective are part of 54 college students who've said, I wanna dedicate my life to missions, either fully Vocationally funded or leveraging my career. And so as we went, we were underground in a subway and that's where we met Christian. Christian was a Christian only in name only. He was an addict, cold hungry, struggling with same sex attraction and broken. He had been there for a week after running from Arizona to chase a better life. We gave him a blanket, shared the gospel and gave him a chance to come off the street and he said, yes. And as we approached, the train doors began to close. And so one of the missionaries said, run Christian, run. And so they're running through the subway to try to get on the train. And as, as one of the college students just took a risk and pressed the emergency button in it, the beeper started going off and the door stayed open on the train. And uh and so they jumped on the train and then the door shut and he just startled because we were in Hollywood, California. He started, he looked around, he said, am I in a movie? And we said, no, man, this is real life. We care about you. We wanna take you to a dry out center supported by a church for two months. You'll have three meals, a roof over your head, a cot to sleep on and you'll go through Bible study for 6 to 8 hours a day and it'll change your life and all you have to do is say yes. And so as we pulled up to that church and as we begin to drop him off, he stopped and he turned around and he gave the missionary a big hug. And he said this tonight, when you approach me, I was planning to kill myself and I was trying to figure out how I was going to do it. Thank you for saving my life and thank you for letting me be a part of your movie. I just love that. Listen, Holland Avenue Baptist Church. You've given over half a million dollars just in the last decade to try to see lives like Christian transformed that other people have forgotten about. You are part of an epic blockbuster. Only God could direct you joined forces with churches all over this state, rescuing people from Brokenness and introducing them to Jesus. But some of you in here may be a Christian by name only, you've never had a heart change with Jesus. You're hold known to all these little gods and you've never released your full life and surrendered your life to Jesus. And for some of you, the last one you're hold known to is what you're going to do with your future. And God might be calling you into missions or ministry and he wants you to let it go and say here I have open hands, I'll go and do whatever you want me to do today as we have a time of invitation, the invitation is open to you. If you're someone who's far from God and you want Jesus to be the Lord of your life, you wanna turn your life over to Him, you wanna go public with it within baptism. I wanna challenge you during this last, this last worship song that you'd actually step out and approach the, the throne of Christ by coming and just saying publicly, I wanna follow Jesus. And if you're someone in here today that says, I feel called to missions or ministry and, and I don't know what that means, but I need somebody to pray for me about it. I wanna encourage you to come as well.