Luke 2:17
And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

Very few people have had the experience of walking on the moon. Most people will never have a chance to even go into space. A majority of people never climb to the tops of the highest mountains or visit Antarctica. Not everyone can go to remote jungles or explore the depths of the sea. We don’t always get to see things for ourselves. In these cases, we have to trust other people’s accounts of what they saw and experienced. And what they might tell us could change our view of the world around us.

The shepherds were privileged to have a unique experience. They were visited by an angel and witnessed a multitude of the heavenly host. They were told about a special baby born right nearby, and they were able to see this child for themselves. They rejoiced about what they had seen and heard, but they also told others about their experience. Sharing their story changed the lives of the people they told.

Not everyone who lived in Jesus’ day got to meet Him personally. Not everyone would have gotten a chance to see Him while He walked on the Earth. But there were people who did get the opportunity of being with Him, talking to Him, being touched by Him. And God has allowed us to hear their accounts through the divine inspiration of the Scriptures. And while it may not be the same as having seen and heard for ourselves, we can still learn from others’ experiences and be changed by them.

We may have our own encounters with God that we can then share with others. Our testimony of salvation may touch someone’s heart and cause them to desire to know Jesus themselves. Our walk through a difficult circumstance may allow us to encourage someone in their own trial. The key is to tell the story. If those who went to the moon refused to tell anyone what they saw and experienced there, we would view it as a wasted trip, done for their own pleasure and not to gain useful knowledge. In the same way, we should not hoard our own experiences for ourselves, but instead use our firsthand accounts to help others come to some special knowledge they need in their own lives. As we have benefited from others going and telling, let us also spread abroad what we have seen and heard.