One Dream, Many Prophecies. Why I am a Christian, part 17

I've previously told the story of the vivid, unusual dream I had when I was about 16 years old, when I saw a beautiful teenage girl, and I heard my Heavenly Father's voice telling me: "This will be your wife."

Although I had no idea who this girl was or where she lived, I never forgot this incident. I believed in the message.

It's true that over the years I dated potential candidates, but none were a perfect fit. Somehow I ended up at a university in Michigan. I moved from Belgium to the States, and after graduation, I wanted to take some computer classes in Seattle. On my way I stopped at a college in Washington State to visit an old friend. Her father was a teacher at the college, and when I got back to Michigan, I received a call from my friend. The French teacher at that college had decided to sell vacuum cleaners, and the college desperately needed a French teacher. My friend's dad encouraged the dean to check me out. He flew all the way to Michigan and hired me on the spot.

That same evening, my Heavenly Father gave me a word: "You will meet your wife at this college. She is from Los Angeles." Sure enough, on registration day, a lovely lady from Los Angeles registered to take my class. When I saw her, it seemed I had met her somewhere. Then I remembered: The dream I received when I was 16 years old!

What were the chances of a Belgium kid meeting someone from the other side of the world? Though the odds were against me, we found each other. Impossible, but true, my dream was fulfilled.

Jesus came to our neighborhood. He was broadcasted via many prophecies, many of them thousands of years old. Below are just a few of them:

Prophecy: "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." Micah 5:2 (NIV) Written around 740 BC

Fulfillment: "After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem..." Matthew 2:1 (NIV)

Prophecy: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?...All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads: "He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him...I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing." Psalm 22:1, 7-8,14-18 (NIV) Written about 1000 B.C.

Fulfillment: "Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads...'He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, 'I am the Son of God.'...About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?'--which means, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'... 'Let's not tear it,' they said to one another. 'Let's decide by lot who will get it.' This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, 'They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.' So this is what the soldiers did." Matthew 27:39, 43, 46; John 19:24 (NIV)

Prophecy: "I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore, my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay." Psalm 16:8-10 (NIV) The Messiah would be resurrected. Written about 1000 B.C.

Fulfillment: "On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, 'Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee.'" Luke 24:1-6 (NIV)

Prophecy: "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14 (NIV) Written between 740-681 BC.

Fulfillment: "This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit." Matthew 1:18 (NIV)

There are way more amazing prophecies about Jesus. You can find some of them at http://www1.cbn.com/biblestudy/biblical-prophecies-fulfilled-by-jesus

How is this possible? How can anyone predict what will happen to someone thousands of years later? This can only be done by our Heavenly Father!

The probability of having 8 prophecies fulfilled by the same person would take an odd of 1 against 100,000,000,000,000,000. However, Jesus fulfilled over a hundred prophecies! How can we explain this? It's not luck. How could Jesus manage to be born in Bethlehem? Who in their right mind would want to die on a lonely cross?

There is a God that truly cares for each one of us. He is alive. Although we wandered away, He is still offering each one of us the opportunity to come live with him for eternity.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 (NIV) Isn't that exciting!

Rob Chaffart

One Dream, Many Prophecies. Why I am a Christian, part 17

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