16 4JSUS
Who Knew?
At the age of nine, young Jeffery moved from Brooklyn, NY to a small town in NC. Jeffery would adapt quickly and soon realized he had a love for sports. Jeffery excelled in three sports: baseball, basketball and football. He was the pitcher, point guard and quarterback. Although Jeffery loved all sports, baseball was his favorite. Jeffery had never been cut from a team until his sophomore year in High School when at 5’9’’ he was deemed too short and underdeveloped to play for the varsity basketball team. Although heart broken, he pushed himself to get better. Who knew that this kid was going to grow four inches the following summer and go on to win six NBA championships and five league MVP’s? Who knew “Too Short” Jeffery would become Michael “Jeffery” Jordan?
At the age of sixteen Marie seemingly had it all. She was blessed with a wonderful family, great friends and tons of talent. She was a fantastic athlete winning numerous awards on numerous teams. She had a great career ahead of her. She was bright, intelligent and witty. Although she a great job, she volunteered her time with her youth group and sought to help anyone she could. She possessed a gorgeous smile and contained a heart to match. She had her whole life ahead of her and she seemed to somehow know the WAY. On November 18th 2004 she had just left her local McDonalds with some drinks when she went to turn into her church’s parking lot. Who knew that would be the last thing Marie would do on this earth? Who knew Marie would turn into the path of an unexpected truck? Who knew that would be Marie’s last day on this earth?
Who knew that since the beginning of time that the Creator of the universe, the creator of all man kind would choose a “BABY” to reconcile his creation to himself? According to this “Creator”, he chose a little baby, born to a lowly family from a tiny town, to “save” the world? Although there are many skeptics, they can’t refute the incredible validity of facts, eyewitness accounts and fulfilled prophecies. This creator (will call God), not only “spoke” this baby into existence but revealed the origin, purpose and the future of this baby for all man kind. He said (by the way you can look this up in His book called the Bible), that this baby would be and do:
1. Born to a virgin mother.
2. Live a sinless life.
3. Lead by His truth and love.
4. Be persecuted and killed by those He came to save.
5. Die on a cross and in man kinds place (crucified).
6. To conquer death by being raised from his grave three days later.
Who knew that this baby would become the Savior of the world? You see this creator is so perfect that our sin (doing bad things) separates us from him. The only way we could have life with Him after death here on earth is that there be a sacrifice. Because sin is so serious to a perfect God, the sacrifice had to be great. Because God is such a loving God he gave his only son, that whoever would believe in him would not die but live forever (in heaven).
Who knew that Jeffery would become Michael Jordan? Who knew that Lauren “Marie” Parker would be a light for so many people and whose life would be marked by such a remarkable legacy? Who knew that this little boy named Jesus would be the Savior of this fallen world?
God knew from day one! God says in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you, to give you hope and a future, not to harm you”. He also knew that you would be reading this today. You are not an accident and it is not by accident that you are reading this message. Know that you are loved and you have purpose on this earth. Will you trust God with your life? Who knows, today might be the day!
By Brian Hoover