THE GOOD NEWS OF DELIVERANCE

Howdy folks,

“Prophecy is a very difficult art,” said Niels Bohr, the physicist, “especially when it involves the future.” Consider the following classic prophetic statements: an official of the White Star Line, speaking of the firm’s newly built flagship, the Titanic, launched in 1912, declared the ship was unsinkable; then there was Thomas J. Watson, Chairman of the Board of IBM who said in 1943: “I think there is a world market for about five computers;” and, finally, my personal favorite was a recording company expert who said in 1962: “We don’t think the Beatles will do anything in the market. Guitar groups are on their way out.”

When considering Bible prophecy, however, we need to understand that it isn’t like God looking into a crystal ball and writing down what He thinks will happen. It is all about God having a definite plan at the beginning, and bringing about events that will take place throughout time that will eventually bring His purpose to pass. The underlying message of Bible prophecy, therefore, is that God is in charge of history and that it moves to His end from the beginning.

The prophet Isaiah, approximately three thousand years ago, prophesied that the Man of sorrow would be wounded and dies for our sins that we might be saved from the wrath to come (Isaiah chapter 53). About one thousand years after Isaiah’s prophecy, an angel messenger appeared to a young virgin and declared she would have a Son and would call His name Jesus (Luke 1:31), which means “Jehovah our Savior.” This name reminds us of the purpose of His birth. He was the Man of sorrow who “bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness --- by whose stripes you were healed (1 Peter 2:24).” Thus, in fulfillment of His eternal plan, a loving Father sent his Son into the world to save us from our sins (John 3:17).

So you see, the birth and death of Jesus was not an afterthought. God had announced His plan and purpose beforehand. The good news of deliverance is that Jesus has ransomed us from the penalty of our sins. When you received Christ as your personal Savior you began an eternal relationship with God that will last throughout eternity.

“Man of sorrow,” what a name
For the Son of God who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim!
Hallelujah! What a Savior. ----Bliss

On the trail for Him,

Mike and Suzann