First, why was there was no room in the inn? Answering that question is easy. It is safe to assume, based upon Luke 2:1,3, that there was a great influx of people into the city at that time. Visualize the impact a convention or a major sporting event has on a city today. All of the motels become full and those in search of lodging must travel elsewhere to find it. It is therefore understandable why there was no room in Bethlehem at the inn. Many people were flooding the area because of the census. Also, it is understandable that the inn keeper was not aware of whom he had turned away when he told Joseph and Mary that there was no vacancy. Had he known that Mary was to give birth to the Savior of the world, one would hope that he would have made available his very best accommodations.
But the real question is not why some uninformed innkeeper from long ago had no room in the inn. The important question is: why is it that so many informed people--over 2000 years later--continue to deny the Savior of the world room in their hearts?
Let me suggest a few reasons at this time:
1. SOME REFUSE ROOM FOR JESUS BECAUSE THEY TRUST IN THEIR OWN GOODNESS.
Paul wrote in Romans 10:1-3 - "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God." Like those of whom the apostle Paul wrote, there are those today who are ignorant of God's righteousness and seek to establish a righteousness of their own. They believe that their own moral excellence (according to their standards) is going to save them. They trust that their own goodness will deliver them from eternal destruction. They don't believe that they are "all that bad." Consequently, they make no room for the Lord in their hearts.
2. SOME REFUSE ROOM FOR JESUS BECAUSE THEY TRUST IN THEIR OWN SUFFICIENCY.
As long as an individual trusts in his own sufficiency, there will be little room for the Lord in his heart. He will rely upon himself and not Almighty God. Such a one needs to understand what Paul declared in II Corinthians 3:5 - "Our sufficiency is from God."
3. SOME REFUSE ROOM FOR JESUS BECAUSE THEY TRUST IN THEIR OWN WISDOM.
This point is closely related to the prior one. Wisdom that comes from man, like self-sufficiency, is vain and powerless to save. Those who trust in the wisdom of men have no room for the Christ in their hearts. The gospel message is foolishness to those pursuing earthly wisdom (cf. I Cor. 1:21-23).
4. SOME REFUSE ROOM FOR JESUS BECAUSE THEY LOVE THE WORLD.
It is sad but true that the lives of many people today are crammed full of all the wrong things. How does one end up with a life cluttered with "stuff" instead of an existence overflowing with spiritual ideals and blessings? The answer is simple: those who love the world and the things therein will pursue physical treasures and honors above spiritual ones. These people are not willing to make room for Jesus in their hearts (cf. II Tim. 3:4; 4:10).
Friends, what about you? Do you have room for Jesus in your heart or have you filled your life up with that which is ultimately irrelevant? Do you feel a need for Him or are you trusting in yourself?