What's the Chance???

If you watch a local TV morning news report while you begin your day, you will hear a weather forecast.  It is nearly certain the forecaster will refer to chance or probability in some fashion or another.  “The rain will hold off this morning, but most of the area has a chance for scattered showers – maybe even a thunderstorm – sometime in the late afternoon.”  

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​Who can blame them for saying “a chance”?  Even this afternoon, even the immediate future can’t be anticipated with 100% certainty.  We can forget about next week or next month.  Our national wrestling match with the coronavirus is a sterling example of uncertainty.  How often have you heard the phrase “in these uncertain times” spoken in news reports, on TV commercials and even in general conversation lately?

Our little dog Oliver does not deal with uncertainty at all.  He cannot abide there being any unresolved element within his scope of daily life.  If a squirrel is sitting on top of the backyard fence, Oliver is not able to turn and walk away.  He waits for the squirrel to either leave or comes down into the yard—either way, the situation has to be resolved. ​

For any of us, it is uncomfortable – at best – to have any uncertainties looming on the horizon of life.  You might be thinking about something like that right now.  You might be thinking about some uncertainty that tip-toes out there on the edge of the day or about another that stomps around, kicking stuff over.

Let’s get the biggest stomper first.  Let’s look at the most significant uncertainty, the thing that defeats everyone, death.  Our Heavenly Father inspired Paul’s letter to the Christians in Rome

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. Romans 8:29-30

Talk about words to live by .. words to live by eternally.  You probably noticed the verbs;
“foreknew”, “predestined”, “called”, “justified”, “glorified.”  They are all in what we call the past tense.  It is all a DONE DEAL.  Because of the faith placed in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, our justification has been accomplished.  Your eternity in heaven, your glorification, is accomplished.  It is not some probability, some statistical chance.  It is done!  Jesus said it.  “It is finished!”
 
An amazing, God-empowered, freedom comes with the defeat of death. You and I have been made free from the nagging uncertainties that come and go.  Ohhh .. they still come and go.  Some of them even stomp.  But our Heavenly Father gives us all we need to deal with them as they flow or stomp along.

In the sixth chapter of Matthew verses 31-33:

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

​So … what’s the chance that the stuff that tip-toes or the stuff that stomps can have a lasting effect?

ZERO!!!

 “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

+Pastor Rod