We were driving to our best friends’ house late one evening a long time ago. They recently had moved several hours away due to a job. Even though they had given us directions with key landmarks to guide us (this was before GPS or cellphones with apps) I felt very uneasy. It was dark, snowing and we were in an unfamiliar area of the state. I could feel my stomach start to tighten – not much but I could feel it.
I asked my wife for the fourth or fifth time, “Honey, are you sure you’re reading the directions right? Maybe you should take a look one more time at the map. I think that we should’ve taken a left instead of a right at that last turn.”
She calmly said for the fourth or fifth time, “Quit second guessing yourself. They gave us the right directions and the map shows that we are on track. Besides, it always feels like it’s taking longer than it should especially when it’s dark out. Have some faith.”
Just as I was about the say something I saw our friends’ house around the bend. We had made it. The lights were on and you could see the whole family inside sitting at the table laughing together. It was a picture of love. I let out my breath that I had unconsciously been holding in.
Everything was as it should be.
Life often feels like an unchartered course and we need assurance from time to time that we are on the right path. This is the same when it comes to our faith. We, too, need assurance from time to time. Our assurance comes from the very word of God who laid out the road map for us.
The birth of Jesus fulfilled multiple prophecies:
From the line of Abraham. (1900–1800 B.C.)
Genesis 22:18 “and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” The genealogy of Jesus is told in the book of Matthew, which refers to him as “the son of David, the son of Abraham.”
From the line of David (1010–970 B.C.)
2 Samuel 7:12-13 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. In Luke 1:32 the angel Gabriel tells Mary, “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,”
Born in Bethlehem. (750–700 B.C)
Micah 5:2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.
Born of a virgin. (740–700 B.C.)
Isaiah 7:14 Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
There are over 300 prophecies that Jesus fulfilled regarding his birth, death, resurrection and reign. The map is well laid out, the directions are clear. Because of God’s enduring word, we find comfort and assurance.
In Jesus we find a picture of great love. In him we are home.
Everything is as it was declared to be.
Pastor Clayton Wilfer 