The Forecasters

The weather forecasters got it wrong.
Terribly wrong.
Wrong for those of us living in the mid-Atlantic region.
Right on target for those living in New England.

A blizzard was coming.
Supermarkets experienced that; get ready for snow, kind of busy.
Milk, eggs, and bread were flying off the shelves.
Washer fluid and rock salt were disappearing quickly.

It was a typical batten down the hatches kind of day.
Everyone went to bed knowing that a few feet of snow would be waiting.
Children went to bed hoping for a good old snow day.
Mothers were making a mental note of the jackets to be zipped and the boots to be put on.

Except it didn’t happen.
We all woke to find the landscape not much different from when we went to bed.
The snow day didn’t happen.
The provisions were bought in vain.

How could the weather forecasters have been so wrong?
Changes in the weather pattern, warm front, change of direction were some of the reasons.
On my news radio station this morning, I heard the unthinkable.
The head of the local weather authority took responsibility and said I am sorry.

I am sorry.
Sorry for something that is really out of his control.
Sorry for something he reported as he interpreted the facts given to him.
Sorry for making a mistake.

Can we count on anything? I have heard many ask.
They don’t know what they are talking about, a few people have said.
I could predict the weather better than they can was said with a bit of arrogance.
They never get it right, was exclaimed mostly out of frustration.

Fallible humans can only be expected to know so much.
Even with the best equipment and the best training, we will inevitably get it wrong.
Sometimes.
We will get it right sometimes as well.

Now the same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus Himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing Him. He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked Him, “Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?” “What things?” He asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.  The chief priests and our rulers handed Him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified Him; but we had hoped that He was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning, but didn’t find His body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but Him they did not see. He said to them, “How foolish you are and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken. Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter His glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself. (Luke 24:13-27)

Sometimes, prophecy is right.
Prophecy is right when it is God-breathed.
Prophecy is correct when it is from God.
God sent Word, through His Prophets, about His Son.

The coming of the Messiah was prophesied.
All of those prophecies came true just as God said.
Jesus used the Word of God to explain what was said concerning Himself.
That Word now stood before them and walked with them.

Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:20,21)

All the prophecies concerning Jesus have come to pass exactly as God said.
All except one.
One prophecy is yet to come.
One will happen just as surely as the rest.

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me. In My Father’s house there are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am.
(John 14:1-3)

Jesus is coming back.
That is a prophecy you can count on.
Unlike the weather forecasters, God Himself speaks the prophecy in His Word.
They have come to pass; they will come to pass.

One more prophecy remains.
Jesus is coming back.
You can count on it.
Maranatha, come Lord Jesus.