Against all odds

I live 15miles away from a big gaming town.  You'd think that with a basic understanding of black jack, $20, and a little beginners luck, the odds would be in my favor.   Well, I can tell you that the first time I decided to give gambling a try, I lost my $20 in less time than it took my eyes to adjust to the bright lights of the casino.  And that was the end of my gambling career.

The odds of me winning at blackjack?  Clearly not good.
The odds of winning the powerball?  1 in 259 MILLION
The odds of becoming president?  1 in 10million.  (There's a good Donald Trump joke in here, but I think I'll let  it slide)
The odds of becoming a professional athlete 1 in 22,000 (sorry kids)
The odds of being audited by the IRS?  1 in 175

The odds of __(good thing)__ happening for you?  Not gonna happen.

Do you ever feel this way?  

This time of year is hard for me.  And from the conversations I've had with people these past few weeks, I'd say I'm not alone.  Life is hard.  And sometimes it just feels like there are roads that are too tortuous, mountains that are insurmountable, and oceans that are simply too deep to ever explore.  I'd love to play the odds, but during seasons like this, it feels as if the odds are NEVER in my favor. 

• Some of you feel lonely without a place to "fit" this Christmas season and wonder if you ever will.
• Some of you are experiencing unbelievable grief that seems to taint even your simple joys.
• Maybe you have been waiting and waiting and wait still for good desires that make your heart literally ache for want.
• There are burdens that some of you are carrying that feel crushing and debilitating.
• Some of you live with a struggle that has followed you through life like a shadow threatening the good you are walking towards.
• While some of you are so far deep into the well of your sin that you can no longer see the light. 
• Many of us feel like Dolly on the Island of misfits, saying, "I haven't any dreams left to dream!"

The odds are stacked against you.  They're stacked against me. 

Moreover, the odds were REALLY stacked against Jesus. 

Do you know what the odds were that Jesus would fulfill just 8 of the hundreds of prophecies given about the Messiah, written hundreds of years before Jesus came?

1 in 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000

And yet Jesus came.  And defied ALL the odds! 
He was the 1 in the 1 in 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000!  The Holy ONE!

Mathematics are no match for God!  All of our probabilities and calculations disappear when God enters the equation.  Our God is a God who loves to work against the odds!

• Read the story of Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 18):  What are the odds that a woman old and "advanced in years" would become pregnant?
• Read about Rahab (Joshua 2):  What are the odds that a Canaanite prostitute would be in the lineage of Jesus?
• Remember the story of King David (2 Samuel 11): What are the odds that an adulterer and a murderer would be called BY GOD, "A man after my own heart."?
• Read about the bleeding woman (Luke 8:43):  What are the odds that a woman who was suffering for 12 years with no hope from her doctors would be healed by simply touching Jesus' cloak?
• Read about the struggles and triumphs of Joseph (Genesis 37):  What are the odds that a little shepherd boy, hated by his brothers, misunderstood, and wrongly accused, would one day be placed in charge of the whole land of Egypt?
• Read about Saul's unbelievable conversion (Acts 9): What are the odds that a man who HATED Christians and did everything in his power to destroy them, would one day be such a positive influential leader and apostle for God's people?

 

 

Read the Christmas story (Luke 2):  What are the odds that a perfect God, in His great love for you, would send His only son, Jesus into a broken, sinful, messy world to be near to you? 

Emmanuel.  God with us. 

He is with you, brokenhearted, weary sinner.  And when the King of kings is with you, all bets are off.  

Whatever heaviness is weighing you down this Christmas season, just remember, Jesus is coming- against all odds.

Go all in.  God's promises are sure.

 

"Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news, lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news, lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, "Behold your God!"  Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.  He will tend his flock, like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young"  Isaiah 40:9-11

"When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the Lord will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them.  I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys.  I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water...that they may see and know, may consider and understand together that the hand of the Lord has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it."  Isaiah 41:17-20