(Note: the title comes from a message by Rick Warren; however, the sermon itself is original)
What are the odds of the Cleveland Browns playing in the Super Bowl this year? They’re about 1-in-15, according to the Las Vegas bookmakers, with a 1-in-20 chance of actually winning the big game. That’s not as good as some teams. But it’s not terrible either. It’s certainly better than the Bengals. Their chances of claiming the Vince Lombardi trophy stand at 500-to-1. And yet, regardless of the odds, I guarantee that both of these clubs will be playing football this afternoon, along with twenty-three other NFL teams. For example, Pittsburgh is favored over Cleveland today by six points. And yet no one has suggested canceling the game on the grounds that it’s a foregone conclusion. Why? Because probability is not destiny. On any given Sunday, as the saying goes, it’s possible for any team to win, and possible for any team to be beaten. A quarterback may be injured early in the game. A field-goal kicker may lose his concentration at a critical moment. The "better" team might be demoralized by an interception, or a costly penalty. Anything can happen. And that’s why "unlikely" is not the same thing as "impossible".
That’s true of all sports. Who could forget the 1980 Olympics and the "Miracle on Ice," the hockey game between the USA and the heavily favored USSR? The Americans were amateurs, unknowns, while the Russians were full-time professional athletes, the Soviet equivalent of an NHL all-star team. No contest. And yet, somehow, incredibly, when the clock ran out, Team USA had scored four goals to their opponents’ three. I remember that game. I was in college, and I recall standing in the packed lounge of our dorm. I can still hear the crowd chanting, "U-S-A! U-S-A!" and Jim McKay, the announcer, yelling "do you believe in miracles," as the final seconds ran out.
We read stories like this all the time. Underdogs who become champions. People who defy the odds to accomplish what no one thought possible. Climbing Mount Everest has become a symbol for this kind of quest. In 1998, Tom Whittaker, a man with an artificial foot, became the first disabled person to complete the ascent. And just last year, in May of 2001, a man named Erik Weihenmeyer became the first blind climber to reach the summit. Can you imagine that? Climbing Mount Everest without even being able to see it?
But the most inspiring stories aren’t those of Olympic champions or world-class mountaineers. Most of us will never compete for a gold medal, or stand triumphantly on top of the world’s highest peak. No, the stories which really hit home are those of men and women who overcome great obstacles just to do ordinary things; things that you and I take for granted. I’m thinking of a man named Bill Porter, whose life was portrayed by actor William H. Macy in the recent TV movie, "Door to Door". Bill was born with cerebral palsy, which made it difficult for him to speak clearly, or to walk, or to use his right arm. He was told that he would never be able to hold a job; never be able to take care of himself. The social service agencies labeled him as "unemployable". They told him his only option would be to collect government disability checks for the rest of his life. But Bill wouldn’t listen. He applied for a job with the Watkins company, selling household products door-to-door. At first, they turned him down, but he persisted. He offered to take the worst territory in the city, an area no other salesman wanted, just to have the chance to prove himself. Finally, they relented and gave him a job. Straight commission, no salary. Bill walked ten miles a day, ringing doorbell after doorbell, fighting against his crippled body; fighting against pain, and weakness, and fatigue - not to mention the difficulties of just speaking, just communicating with people. When he made a sale, he had to have the customer fill out the order form, because he couldn’t hold a pen to write. And yet, he succeeded. He became the company’s top salesman, first in that city, then in the region, and finally in the entire country. He achieved all this, even though he couldn’t tie his own shoes or button his own collar. Imagine. A man who has difficulty speaking and walking, thinking that he could make a career for himself - as a door-to-door salesman, of all things! It’s ridiculous! And yet, that’s exactly what he did, and has done, for more than forty years. Bill doesn’t define himself as disabled. Nor does he view himself as some kind of hero. He’s just someone who has a job to do, and who gets up every morning and does it, whether he feels like it or not. And in its own way, that is truly heroic.
Now, you may not suffer from a disability. But all of us face situations where the deck seems to be stacked against us; situations where success, or even survival, seems highly questionable. Perhaps that’s true of you this morning. Perhaps you’re listening to the sermon, and enjoying the music and the fellowship, and you’re glad to be here - but you know that as soon as you walk out the door and re-enter the world, you’ll be right back in the thick of things, struggling against long odds, fighting with your back against the wall. And so what I want to do is offer you some hope to take with you. Real hope, not just happy talk. Hope that will help you deal with whatever life is throwing at you right now - no matter how insurmountable the obstacles may appear; no matter how unlikely a good outcome may seem to be. Because as much as we like uplifting stories, such as the story of Bill Porter’s life, we have something far greater than his example on which to base our confidence. We have the promises of God to rely on; we have the presence and the power of God at work in our lives. And that’s more than enough to meet any challenge. So let’s consider together how we can make the most of these great resources.
First and foremost, we need to maintain a positive mental attitude. That might sound trite. But survival experts tell us that the most important thing in any crisis situation is to keep your head. Don’t panic. Don’t give in to fear. Don’t get bogged down in regret over what got you into this mess. OK, that’s good advice, but how do you follow it? How do you keep a positive attitude, for example, when you don’t have the money you need to pay your bills, and there’s no financial relief in sight? How do you ward off anxiety when your employer announces layoffs, and you know the chances of finding another job in your field are not good? How do you avoid discouragement when you’re in a long-term relationship with someone who won’t make positive changes? How do you do that?
Well, it’s not by sticking your head in the sand and trying to ignore the reality of what’s happening in your life. Nor by pumping yourself up with inspirational slogans or clever little mottoes. Those may work for a while, but ultimately they disappoint, because they’re hollow. They’re made of straw. It troubles me when I hear someone say to a hurting person, "Don’t worry. I’m sure everything will be all right." I know they’re trying to communicate care and concern, trying to give some comfort. And that’s good. But vague assurances that somehow things will work out - in the end they don’t satisfy, because they have no solid foundation. They’re nothing more than hoping in hope. Instead, we need to strengthen ourselves, and to encourage one another, with the promises of Scripture. That’s where true encouragement comes from; that’s our only solid source of hope. What we need is to get God’s perspective on our situation; we need to conform our thoughts and our attitudes to the truth of His Word. That’s how we find the energy and the courage to persevere; That’s how we avoid becoming discouraged and overwhelmed.
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things." - Philippians 4:8
We need to pay attention to our circumstances. We need to think about how we can best deal with the challenges we’re facing. But what we don’t need to do is become obsessed with things that are negative, or evil, or destructive. We shouldn’t allow ourselves to dwell on all the painful things that have happened, or that might happen, or that could happen. Yes, we have to face reality, and those things are a part of it. But we can’t allow our minds to be dominated by such matters, because it will warp our thinking. It will poison our attitudes. Instead, we should fill our minds with thoughts of what is genuinely good. For example, in your life, how has God blessed you? How has he protected you from harm? How has he provided for your needs? Think of those things. Give thanks for them. Instead of dwelling on all the things that are wrong with the world and wrong with people, think of what’s right in the world, and what’s good in people. Give thanks for those things.
And finally, read the gospels, and think about Christ. What kind of a man he was, and is. How he lived; how he treated people. How he died, and why. And how he rose again, so that we might live forever. Think about the fact that he loves you, with an everlasting love. As the author of Hebrews writes,
"Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess." - Hebrews 3:1
It matters what you set your mind on; It matters what you choose to fill your thoughts with.
"Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is." - Romans 12:2, NLT
Do you want to have peace concerning your circumstances? Do you want to feel absolutely confident, deep down in your heart, that what God is doing in your life is good and right? Do you want to be free of anxiety and doubt? Then change the way you think; renew your mind by reading and believing the Bible. It’s not just a book. It’s the powerful, transforming word of God. It can change us; and it will change us.
But having established that the starting point for dealing with difficult situations is a mind filled with the truth, we still need that truth. What assurances have we been given concerning God’s power and protection? What promises can we cling to in times of trouble?
"Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him." - Psalm 115:3
"The LORD does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths." - Psalm 135:6
The thing to remember, when the odds are against us, when the possibility of success seems remote, is that isn’t God isn’t bound by odds or percentages. His ability to act isn’t constrained by such words as "likely" or "unlikely". We don’t live in a world governed by some blind Fate, mindlessly tossing us about. Our destinies aren’t determined by statistical probabilities. Instead, we live in a world governed by a sovereign, personal God. And he will do in our lives whatever he chooses to do, odds or no odds. Do you understand what I’m saying? Concepts like "likely" and "unlikely" simply don’t apply when you’re talking about God. He always does whatever he pleases. And if that doesn’t fit the probabilities, then we change the probabilities. But God will not be limited, or restricted in any way. He is completely free, always and everywhere, to act according to his good pleasure.
"Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you." - Jeremiah 32:17
"For nothing is impossible with God." - Luke 1:37
Let’s consider some examples. This last quote, Luke 1:37, is taken from an encounter between the angel Gabriel and Mary, the mother of Jesus. The angel informs her that she is going to bear a child who will be the Son of God. And then he goes on to make this promise:
"Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God." - Luke 1:36-37
Here we see that God is sovereign over our physical limitations. This woman, Elizabeth, has not been able to bear children her whole life, and she is now past the normal age for childbearing. The people who knew her would say that her chances of conceiving a child are very small; but God doesn’t operate according to chance. Her friends and family would consider it extremely "unlikely" that she would ever have a child; but "likely" and "unlikely" don’t mean anything to God. All that matters is what he chooses to do. And in this case, his desire was for Elizabeth to bear a child. In the beginning of today’s message, I mentioned Bill Porter, a man who overcame tremendous physical obstacles to become a great salesman. The odds of him succeeding were very small, and yet he overcame those odds, through his determination, and will power, and effort. How much more then, should we be confident of what God can accomplish in our lives, by His will, and through His power?
You may have heard that the actor Christopher Reeve, who was paralyzed in a 1995 riding accident, has recently recovered some movement in his legs and in the fingers of his left hand. In one account I read, it said that his partial recovery "defies medical theory". In other words, it was believed to be impossible - until it happened. Now, I don’t know whether Christopher Reeve will walk again. But whether or not he ever leaves his wheelchair, he has already overcome his disability, by refusing to accept what other people told him about his limitations. He has continued to hope, and to work for a cure. And in the meantime, he has not allowed himself to be paralyzed by his paralysis. He has become an active spokesman for spinal cord injury research. He writes, and speaks, and makes appearances all over the country. Whatever his physical prognosis may be, he has already beaten the odds. And God can help you do the same thing. He may not remove the obstacles; he may not eliminate the difficulties. But he can give you the strength and courage to overcome them, and not be defeated by them.
Let’s take another example. Financial problems. Bills mounting up, not enough money coming in, no relief on the horizon. You’re out of work, and the unemployment checks are running out, or already have run out. The likelihood of a good outcome is growing smaller every day. What to do? Well, the first thing to do is get God’s perspective on the situation.
"Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way."
His disciples answered, "Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?"
"How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked.
"Seven," they replied, "and a few small fish."
He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was four thousand, besides women and children." - Matthew 15:32-38
Here we see the disciples facing a seemingly hopeless situation concerning a lack of resources. What can we learn from this story? First, that God often provides in ways we don’t expect or anticipate. The disciples couldn’t see a way for the need to be met, because they were thinking only in traditional terms. In order to obtain bread, you had to be near a city, where you could find a bakery. And then, you would need sufficient funds to purchase bread for several thousand people. But they had neither of these things. No city, no money, therefore no bread. End of story. Their faith was limited by their sight; their expectation was limited by their imagination. What’s the lesson, then? That we can trust God to provide, even when we can’t see how he is going to do it.
Paul reminds us, in his letter to the Ephesian church, that God "… is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us" (Ephesians 3:20) "Immeasurably more!" And so what’s the problem? That we lack vision, that we lack imagination? No. The issue is not that we are unable to anticipate how God will meet our needs. That’s a given. Because our knowledge and our understanding are finite, they’re limited. We can’t possibly know what God has in mind. So that’s not even an issue. The problem is that we equate our inability to see with God being unable to provide. In other words, if I can’t see a solution, there must not be a solution. And that’s false. Our attitude should be rather one of, "God, I don’t know what you’re doing here. I can’t see how you’re going to meet my needs. But I trust that somehow, you will. And in the meantime, I’m going to keep following you as best I know how."
The second thing we learn from the story of the loaves and fishes is that God never experiences a shortage of resources. Jobs may be scarce. Money may be scarce. Food may be scarce. But God will always have enough to provide for the needs of his children. Listen to these promises:
"And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others." - 2 Corinthians 9:8, NLT
"So don’t worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern." - Matthew 6:31-33, NLT
Are you doing that? Are you making the Kingdom of God your primary concern, as Christ calls us to do? When it comes to money, or housing, or food, or clothing, or retirement, are you seeking first what God wants? Are you going to God first as the source of all good things, seeking his guidance and provision? Or are you walking right past God and giving all your attention to the things everyone else focuses on; things like mortgage rates, and credit card terms, and stock market averages, and salary increases? Are you trusting God for your finances? Or are you pretty much ignoring God in this area, and trying to work things out on your own? God can provide all you need, and more besides, so that you have enough to share with others. But you have to make him your first priority.
Let’s take one more example, and then we’ll be done. Perhaps you’re facing a difficult situation concerning someone that you’re in a close relationship with. Husband, wife, mother, father, son, daughter, friend. They need to change, but they’re resisting it. Or you need to change, but you don’t know how. It’s causing conflict, unhappiness, suffering. From a human perspective, it seems hopeless. They’ll never change. They’re too hard-headed, too hard-hearted; too proud; too set in their ways. But remember that words such as "likely" and "unlikely" don’t apply when God is involved. And God does change people. Listen to this account of how Saul the Pharisee became Paul the apostle:
"Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God." - Acts 9:1-6, 20
How likely was it that a proud, self-righteous Pharisee, a man who was arresting and killing Christians, would himself become a Christian; and not only a Christian but a preacher? What were the odds of that? But it happened. When God got involved, the odds didn’t matter. And if God can change a man like Saul, he can change anyone. That’s what we should hope for, and pray for, and expect.
In closing, let me remind you of the ultimate example of overcoming the odds, which was the resurrection of Jesus Christ. That is the event which should guide our thinking in every circumstance which appears hopeless. For what could be more hopeless than death? And yet, Christ triumphed over the grave; he rose victorious to live forever, and to give us eternal life as well. That is why, for the Christian, there is literally no such thing as an impossible situation, no such thing as a hopeless cause. Won’t you put your trust in Christ, even today?
(For an .rtf file of this and other sermons, see www.journeychurchonline.org/messages.htm)
