Would you believe?

As seen in HEARTbeat and the Village Voice

Would You Believe?

            “The sky is falling!  The sky is falling!”  Exclamations from Chicken Little in the age-old children’s story titled, “The Remarkable Story of Chicken Little,” written by John Greene Chandler.  The little chicken is sleeping under a bush in the barnyard when a cow reaches over the fence and bites off a piece of the bush.  This awakens Chicken Little just in time to see a leaf from the bush fall onto its tail.  “The sky is falling,” exclaims the alarmist chicken!  Chicken Little then goes on to convince a great many more barnyard animals the sky is really falling because of a supposed eye-witness’s testimony.

            While we think of this 1840’s children’s fable as funny, do we not do the same?  What caused the news to spread so quickly, and not only quickly but to also remain believable?  It was the negativity of the message that caused the perpetuation of the rumor.  Why do positive rumors get discounted, yet negative rumors grow out of proportion?

            There were many prophets in the Old Testament, or as I like to call them the Hebrew Scriptures.  Some of the prophecies have come true and some have yet to occur.  The second coming of Christ is foretold in by many of the prophets of old, but Jesus had to come first before He can come a second time.

            Deuteronomy 18:21-22 says this: “You may say to yourselves, ‘How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?’ If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken.  That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed.”  If we hold fast and true to this, how would we believe Jesus is coming a second time?  You’re thinking dumb question, I know.  But put yourself in the shoes of people 700 years before the birth of Jesus.  Would you believe the Messiah is coming after it had been prophesied for hundreds of years before?  And what about those in the days of Malachi, the last of the minor prophets?  People heard of the prophecy spoken by Isaiah read for hundreds of years.  Was it just another “Chicken Little” story?

            John the Baptist told the Pharisees the Messiah was here and walked among them, yet they did not know Him.  How would you feel if you were told the Messiah was walking among us today?  Would you believe?

            The second coming of Jesus will happen with the sound of heavenly trumpets, as foretold.  Jesus had to come the first time as a little baby.  Prophecy came true!  But the talk of the second coming doesn’t get near enough attention as the prophecy of the great war – Armageddon.  Why?  Because as humans it’s easier to be negative than positive!

            I am positive about one thing.  Prophets foretold of the virgin birth; it happened.  They foretold of Jesus’ sacrifice; it happened.  Be alarmed!  Jesus is coming again!  Scripture has validated it and I believe it.  Let’s have a little positive faith today, and our faces will show it!