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EASTER 2007
While traveling through the Twin Cities on a very rainy spring night, something strange began to happen to the windshield wipers. The right one seemed to be going out of time with the left one. Next thing I knew, the right one started banging against the left and soon were caught up together, leaving us with no windshield wiper. After 30 years of driving and never seeing such an event I thought, what are the chances?
I pulled over to the side, opened the driver’s door, on a very busy Highway 10 at night. I stood in the door opening and untied the wipers but couldn’t get out because of the traffic. I had Josh go out the passenger door and work the right wiper over and try to straighten it out. He hooked it around the front of the antennae and we were back in business (a chip off the old block is my son). We laughed as the wiper bumped up and down against the antennae. Several miles later, the right wiper began to jump, and next thing I knew it was flailing back and forth out of time once again – and within a minute or so – they wipers were again tied up. We put on the double flashers and ran down the side for about ¼ mile and pulled into a Holiday station. What are the chances that could happen again?
When you drive cars of the quality and disposition that we do – you always have a case of tools in the back. So, I had Josh take the wiper arm off and sure enough it was striped out. We had one good wiper on the driver’s side and so that was what we would go with. It was not raining the next day when we left Minneapolis, so we headed for Warroad with one wiper. It was a bit difficult to see on the passenger side but bearable (you’ll have to ask Linda about that). We made it just fine with our one wiper. Then I saw something that made me laugh. On the bog road I met a 1990’s white Pontiac – with you guess what – one wiper! Linda asked me a couple of times what I was smirking about. I was thinking, “What are the chances of that happening?”
Two wiper tie ups and a strange meeting with a General Motors product on the bog road that apparently had a similar problem. What are the chances?
These kind of what are the chances events are fun for me to think about, but I have some much greater ones for you to consider today.
What are the chances that the Son of God would come right on time?
Psalm 2:7 – “You are my Son; today I have become your Father”
Galatians 4:4 - But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father
What are the chances that Scripture would be given and preserved to announce the coming of Messiah?
LK 24:25 He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
What are the chances that Scripture would be fulfilled in this Son of Man?
JN 8:27 They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 28 So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him." 30 Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him.
What are the chances that Messiah would be lifted up from the earth and draw all men to Him?
JN 12:30 Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
JN 12:34 The crowd spoke up, "We have heard from the Law that the Christ will remain forever, so how can you say, `The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this `Son of Man'?"
What are the chances that He would be buried?
JN 19:38 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away. 39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. 40 Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. 41 At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. 42 Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
What are the chances that He would rise again on the third day?
John 20
What are the chances that He would ascend into Heaven and be given all authority?
Matthew 28:18-20
What are the chances that He will come again?
What are the chances?
What are the chances?
For a Ford product to meet a General Motors product with similar wiper problems on the bog road on Sunday night, April 1st, at 7:30 p.m. – just to make me laugh – is a remote chance.
But it is nothing and of no comparison to what has been fulfilled to accomplish my salvation.
There is not even the most remote chance that all that is necessary for me to be saved from my sin today could just happen.
It was planned.
To us that is an absolute impossibility . . . which is a master point. That is why we exercise faith.
“The fool says in his heart, there is no God” (Psalm 14:1 and 53:1).
The wise person says, “O yes, there is a God” . . . but that is only the very beginning.
Listen to Hebrews 12:1-5
Hear the clear call of Hebrews 11 – We must exercise faith!
Read / Understand / Practice
Hebrews 11:6
“Without faith it is impossible to please God.”
#1 – I believe that He is.
#2 – I believe that He rewards.
- “Well done!”
- “Depart from me, I never knew you”
Psalm 62:11-12, “One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving. Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done.”
“If thou hadst known” – God goes direct to the heart, with the tears of Jesus behind. These words imply culpable responsibility; God holds us responsible for what we do not see (Oswald Chambers – My Utmost For His Highest, p. 94).
Here is the almost unbelievable twist in this seemingly unending mine field of chances:
What are the chances that someone here today could believe in the Risen Lord Jesus Christ and have their sin forgiven today?
Oddly, the chances are very high.
In spite of the power of this world.
In spite of the prince of the power of the air – Satan and his host.
In spite of myself.
Every opportunity to receive Jesus Christ and believe in Him as Lord and Savior are very high.
Will you?
By faith, will you receive?
The astronomical chances that are against any of this ever happening are like crushed grass under the feet of the Risen Lord!
I think that the serpents head gets crushed each time some by faith receives this gospel message.
Just like the Scripture says that some how the angels rejoice when one lost sheep is found, one lost coin gets found, one prodigal comes home.
This is God’s plan.
Two important choices are before each of us:
Maybe the reality of what we are here for today is beginning to sink in.
Do you know what you are saying?
Do you know what this would mean?
Have you any idea of what this might cost?
If questions like that are creeping in, don’t be scared. You are just beginning to take a taste of what it means to exercise faith.
Not faith in things that I can see.
Not faith in myself.
Rather faith that God is and that He rewards those that diligently seek Him.
We love the Scriptural account of doubting Thomas – don’t we.
We love to shake our heads at the way Peter denied his Lord – don’t we.
We can’t believe that the disciples could be so dull about this resurrection message – can we.
Why is this?
Because we don’t think that we are them.
Dull? Doubting? Denier?
The rooster is crowing my friends!
What are the chances that that old rooster would crow at just the right time so that Jesus would look at Peter after his third denial and look him right in the eyes?
Absolute impossibilities according to our minds.
Great plan in the mind of our God!
“With man these things are impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).
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