You Can Take This Stuff To The Bank!

When I was in college at Oral Roberts University, I majored in history. To some, that may seem like a strange choice, I mean, how boring, right? The truth is that at the time, I chose history because if I had to study anything, the most interesting and easy thing for me to learn was history. After all, if you got much beyond “2 + 2 = 4,” it was a sad story as I have always been a fuzzy, not a techie. It was not until years later, though, when I began to realize that history is incredibly more than a bunch of pointless facts and dates. The truth is that we have no hope of understanding the geopolitical, economic or even social situation of our world in the year 2010 without a decent grasp of history. If Hitler had understood European history, for example, he would have remembered Napolean’s terrible retreat across Russia in the wintertime. The Russians’ defense against Napolean in the 1800’s and later against Hitler in the 1900’s was what is referred to as their "scorched earth policy." Having apparently learned nothing from Napolean’s defeat, Hitler’s men repeated it, many dying in the snow in their summer uniforms. Hitler’s problem? He didn’t pay attention to history!

Similarly, we wonder if, due to the economic woes, we’re going to be jobless. We worry about whether or not we and our children will be safe. We wonder if we’ll have enough money to do what we need to do. Much of this could be avoided -- winter wools could be made available for us in the winter, if you will -- by studying the history of God. Consider the following:

God promised David that the Messiah would be one of his descendants, and He was!

Isaiah predicted that the Messiah would live in the Galilee, and He did!

The psalmist said the Messiah would teach using parables -- and He did!

David said the Messiah would be hated without reason -- and He was!

Zechariah said the Messiah would enter the City of Jerusalem as a king and yet at the same time appear to be gentle, riding a donkey, and He did!

The very fact that Jesus’ miracles included the healing of people who had lost their sight (as opposed to people with other maladies) was a proof in itself that when God promises, He delivers. Isaiah described the ministry of the Messiah as one in which the eyes of the blind would be opened. About 700 years later, Jesus healed a man born blind (see John 9). Even the evil leaders dared not deny this miracle when the man’s own parents confirmed it! Then look what the formerly blind man said when confronted: “Since the world began, it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind.” The Old Testament includes some healings, for example, from leprosy, barrenness, and an individual with a withered hand. Both Elijah and Elisha even raised children from the dead. However, I cannot find any passage in the Old Testament where blind people were healed. That specific kind of healing was reserved for a later day, one which Hebrews 11:40 described generally as “something better for us.” And it happened!

Balaam, a reluctant prophet, predicted a star coming out of Israel. Not only did the star show up at Jesus’ birth as predicted, but it was seen by witnesses (the wise men) many miles to the east of tiny Israel!

Jesus' folks had to flee their homeland and go to Egypt, but God promised Hosea the Messiah would be called out of Egypt, and He was!

The sayings of Nostradamus and other so-called “seers” were so vague they are often claimed to have predicted many different events in just about every century since! For example, in Quatrain 4, he predicts “a king who will have little peace and a short life.” I could find any number of examples of such kings from world history. I mean couldn't he have been a little more specific? Conversely, God’s promises were quite explicit. If HIS promises hadn't been kept, it would have been a dead giveaway. For example, Micah could have simply predicted that the Messiah would be born in, say, the southern part of Israel. Instead, Micah stated specifically that Messiah would be born in Bethlehem Ephrathah. Did you know there were two Bethlehems? One was in northern Israel and the other in the south, just a few miles from Jerusalem. So in fact, this promise was incredibly precise. It didn’t just say “Bethlehem.” It said: “Bethlehem Ephrathah." It stipulated which Bethlehem -- and of course that’s exactly where Jesus was born -- exactly like Micah said!

David said the Messiah would be betrayed and sold by one believed to be his friend; and Zechariah told us in advance the exact price of the betrayal (30 pieces of silver). It happened just as they said!

And the above represent only a few of the over 100 specific prophecies which were fulfilled precisely. So what’s the bottom line? When God promises you something, you can take it to the bank! You can rest in it because you KNOW it’s true. It’s not hope so, maybe so, I think so, if God’s in the mood. No, it will happen!

How do you judge someone’s character? By their history. For example, how do you know your best friend can be trusted? By what they have done or perhaps not done in the past. In the same way, God has revealed HIS character to us by HIS history.

Often when we are told of the numerous predictions of the Messiah, we see it as a “ho-hum” proposition. “Oh well, that happened centuries ago. That’s old news and has nothing to do with me today.” I submit, however, that it has a great deal to do with your life right now in 2010 -- for if God kept His promises in the past, He’ll keep His promises to you now. The promises to us now are just as true and just as real!

So don't be discouraged. Trust in Him, knowing that “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Rest in that promise, knowing you can take this stuff to the bank!