He Got the Car of His Dream BUT What He Did Next Will Surprise You…

He Got the Car of His Dream BUT What He Did Next Will Surprise You….

He Got the Car of His Dream BUT What He Did Next Will Surprise You…

World Cup 2014 has been full of surprises so far. Imagine the stunner when Spain, the last World Cup champions, were spectacularly beaten by the very team that they beat to win last time around this time in the preliminaries .

By the looks of it, World Cup 2014 would have many, many stunning surprises. Surprises always have winners and losers.

Surprises can be good and they can be bad. Just stop and think, when was the last time you got a real surprise that caught you off guard? How did you feel? Was your heart racing?

A young man from a wealthy family was about to graduate from high school. It was a custom in their affluent community for parents to give their graduating children a new car, and the boy and his dad had spent weeks visiting one dealership after another. The week before graduation they found the perfect car. The boy was certain it would be in the driveway on graduation night.

“On the eve of his graduation, however, his father handed him a small package wrapped in colorful paper. It was a Bible! The boy was so angry he threw the Bible down and stormed out of the house. He and his father never saw each other again.

“Several years later the news of the father’s death finally brought the son home again. Following the funeral, he sat alone one evening, going through his father’s possessions, when he came across the Bible his dad had given him. Overwhelmed by grief, he cracked it open for the first time. When he did, a cashier’s check dated the day of his high school graduation fell into his lap-in the exact amount of the car they had chosen together. Rebuked by surprise!

Similarly, many of us may be rebuked by surprises at the end of the Fifa 2014 world cup.  So far we’ve seen some major surprises. However be sure to expect more as the tournament moves along. This year’s competition is currently held in Brazil, and has brought together 32 countries all competing for the much coveted FIFA world cup trophy.

Every (4) years foot ball fans, experts, fanatics, and natives are glued to their televisions or phones in anticipation of the World Cup, this has brought much excitement. In 2010 South Africa was the host nation, and Spain won in the finals beating Netherlands: 1-0. This year the buzz is on, and many bets are being place, while pundits try to predict the outcome of this world cup. There are many persons who still remain uncertain as to which country will walk away with the 2014 Fifa trophy.

Already we have seen some very interesting results, and some intense moments on the field of play. These results can be summed up by the following words; Shock, and Embarrassment. Here is a list of such, that have taken place;

Surprise #1 -Defending champions Spain were given a severe spanking from the Netherlands: 5-1 and plane tickets back to Spain by Chile who defeated them: 2-0 in their opening world cup campaign.

Surprise#2 – England one of the favorites according to sports analysts were sent packing very early with losses to Italy: 2-1 and Uruguay: 2-1.

Surprise#3 – Los Tico’s: Costa Rica from the CONCACAF zone. No one expected this team to qualify from group D especially with favorites like Italy, England and contenders Uruguay. So far the Costa Ricans have beaten Uruguay: 3-1 and Italy: 1-0. Their final game would be against England, and if they are successful it would put them in a good position of making a clean sweep with a group that includes three former World Cup winners.

Surprise#4 – The Greeks defeated Ivory Coast 2-1 on a stoppage time penalty kick that put them through for the first time in history.

The other matches saw world class teams such as; Argentina, 1 -0 over Iran, (Last minute goal by Messi) Germany 2-2 against Ghana, and Brazil, 0-0 against Mexico. These recent results along with those to come has given every one including pundits, some food for thought; “Never underestimate any team” or better yet “Expect the unexpected”. With a few more days to go before the round of 16, supporters from the various teams will either be weeping, or rejoicing.

As I think about the excitement of this year’s world cup and the amount of preparation that went into, I can’t help but think, as Christians are we this excited about the coming of the Lord? Are we really prepared? The bible is clear on the return of Christ; Luke 21:34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. Christ coming will be a major surprise to the entire world; many will be caught off guard because we simply don’t know the day or the hour of his coming.

Could you imagine in the midst of our celebrations, parties, world cup frenzy, carnival and the list goes on, that Christ puts in His appearance, how many of us would need time to repent or get things right with a family member, neighbor, co-worker, parents, or with God of himself. There and then it would be too late. Would you be rebuked by surprise?

What’s your life status saying now; Unsaved…Half way Christian…Backslider…Churchgoer?

I believe one of the things in life that never ceases to surprise us is the visit of a thief. We are just never prepared to return home and meet the house ransacked, never ready to return to your car to find your belongs missing, don’t talk about reaching into our pocket or pocket book and your wallet is gone!

I leave you with these words from;Revelation 16:15 “Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed. “Should Christ put in his appearance now, would you be spiritually naked and shamefully exposed? Think about it my friends, his coming would be a major surprise to those who have NOT repented and confess their sins to Jesus. A real surprise!