Read the passage. What does this passage say to you? As I read this, I see it talking about all the things that the worldly people are doing every day and thinking they are getting by with it, and then one day, God says, “SURPRISE!”
Life is filled with surprises. How we cope with the surprises in our lives is the key to a happy life or one lived in fear. God’s Word teaches us that if we face all the surprises with faith, we will live a joy-filled life.
It seems to me as I look back over the events of life, that just about every momentous human event took place as a surprise.
? For instance, marriage is a surprise. For the most part, I don’t know of too many that set out to get married. That is not their intention. But as a relationship develops, marriage evolves. SURPRISE!!!
? Birth is a surprise. Even if a couple is trying to get pregnant, it’s a surprise when it finally happens. And then there is the surprise of finding out if it is a boy, or a girl, or twins. SURPRISE!!!
? Death is a surprise. Death often catches us unexpectedly. Even when we get the news that our cancer is terminal, death is still a surprise.
? Illness is a surprise. No one intentionally sets out to catch the flu, but after it’s over, it’s something that you don’t soon forget.
? Humor catches us by surprise; that’s what makes it funny.
Here’s a surprise that won’t be soon forgotten. A legal firm sent flowers to an associate upon the opening of its new offices. There was some mix up at the florist and the ribbon draped across the bouquet of flowers read “Deepest Sympathy.” When the florist was told of the mistake, he let out a cry. “Good heavens, then the flowers that went to the funeral said, “Congratulations on your new location.”
In the church setting, the conversion event is a surprise. Not many walk out of the house in the morning with the notion of going out and getting saved. Getting saved takes on many shapes, and it happens unexpectedly and is always a surprise.
So, surprises come in life and make life a momentous occasion. I think that I can even go so far as saying that most of our religion is a surprise. In this 73rd Psalm, we see someone who, by the end of the chapter, is surprised. We see at its opening statements that this is a discouraged person. He feels beaten and angry with God. It almost seems like the psalmist is ready to denounce God because of the world’s injustice. Let me read the first 9 verse from the NLT.
Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure. 2 But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. 3 For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness. 4 They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong. 5 They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else. 6 They wear pride like a jeweled necklace and clothe themselves with cruelty. 7 These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for! 8 They scoff and speak only evil; in their pride, they seek to crush others. 9 They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut throughout the earth.
And there has probably been a time in your life when you have felt the same way. I know I have. Back in the early 80s I was in retail equipment sales. Forklifts sales to be exact. I remember a time when my boss asked me, “Can’t you just lie a little?” And I looked at the other salesmen and saw how they had no problem with lying to make a deal. It usually caught up with them. But these were the guys making the most sales and the most commission.
And I must admit there were times when I questioned God’s justice in it all. These guys weren’t of pure hearts but they were the ones prospering. I was doing what was the right and honest thing to do but I had the lowest sales volume. What’s wrong with that picture? Have you been there before?
Well this psalmist was just like us and was getting tired of it all. For whatever reason, he decided to go to the temple to gather his thoughts. Maybe that’s why some of you are hear this evening, to gather your thoughts, to see if you can make sense of what seems to be injustice in the world.
Maybe he went to the temple to really get on God’s case. Sometimes we get mad at God. Things happen to us or our loved ones. People get sick of worse die. It’s enough to get mad at God. Well this is where the psalmist was. Maybe he was going to the temple to tell God off. But then something happened. Somehow, he developed a different attitude. SURPRISE! One of his big surprises was that through the darkest hours, God had been there, offering strength, and perseverance for life. Look at verses 16-20:
So, I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is!
17 Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked. 18 Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction. 19 In an instant they are destroyed, completely swept away by terrors. 20 When you arise, O Lord, you will laugh at their silly ideas
as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.
I know most of you have read or heard the poem “Footprints in the sand.” READ.
Do you see the surprise moment? When you read or heard this for the 1st time, the ending was a surprise to you. It’s a surprise when we look back on our lives and discover for the first time that we have been carried through some of the toughest times because of our faith in God through Christ. That’s quite a surprise.
When the psalmist got to the temple, God surprised him and made him realize all that God had done for him. Verses 21-28.
Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside. 22 I was so foolish and ignorant—I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you. 23 Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. 24 You guide me with your counsel,
leading me to a glorious destiny. 25 Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. 26 My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. 27 Those who desert him will perish, for you destroy those who abandon you. 28 But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter,
and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.
Can you see how his whole countenance changed? God surprised him. Just like He still surprises us today. There’s a lot about our religion that catches us by surprise. A long time ago, Methodist churches were called “Meeting Houses.” Its original intent was this: When old-time Methodists gathered to meet, it wasn’t to be entertained, or to have worthy discussion, even though this did happen. It was to meet. Not to meet each other, but to meet the risen Christ. That is why we gather each week. We gather together expecting the risen Christ to be present among us and to be known by those who hear the word.
Do you know what makes a worship service dull? Dull services result when we never really intend to meet the risen Christ. For many, if the risen Christ appeared physically in our service, which He HAS done, many wouldn’t even notice because they either slept through it or weren’t paying attention. Why would anyone even come to a worship service if they never intend to meet Jesus in the first place?
It’s still a surprise, though. We come expecting to meet Jesus; we expect the Holy Spirit to have influence over our lives, and still, when it happens, it’s a surprise. And it’s a wonderful surprise.
Religion is praying. Maybe the prayer will be answered and maybe it won’t—at least not the way you want, or when you want. Religion doesn’t always work. Don’t let religion get between you and your worship of God.
Religion doesn’t get us to heaven. Many times, we confuse religion with worship. Religion claims that we can always be sure what God’s will is. But we’re not always sure, are we? And because of that,
? We’re surprised when God touches us in such a way that cause us to be moved.
? We’re surprised when suddenly we have a peace in our hearts.
? We’re surprised when the Holy Spirit moves us to witness to someone.
? We’re surprised when suddenly we fell moved to come to the altar to pray.
I guess we would be safe to say that with religion and worship as well, the outcome is always a surprise. Sometimes we surprise ourselves by just being at church. Even Jesus’ disciples were surprised when He suddenly appeared in the room with them after His resurrection. Two other disciples were surprised when they realized that the man walking with them on the road to Emmaus was Jesus.
The very presence of God is always a surprise. But isn’t it wonderful? I’m reminded of last Sunday morning’s sermon title, “The present of God’s presence.” Maybe that explains why we are so surprised when God answers one of our prayers.
7-year-old George let out a loud, shrill whistle one Sunday during the pastoral prayer. After church, his mother asked him why he did it. Little George answered, “I asked God to teach me to whistle, and He did just then.” It was a surprising addition to the prayer.
God’s touch in our lives is always a wonderful surprise. Don’t be surprised if He touches you sometime and urges you to make a decision for Him. I thank God for surprises. Because that’s what makes human events momentous and memorable.
Let’s be open, right now, to the surprises that God has in store for us, as we pray.
