Of Prophecy and a Runaway Scarecrow

(Nov. 4, 2007)

            A few months ago I read a children’s mystery story of a ‘runaway scarecrow’.  The basic plot was a Scarecrow figure recently disappeared from the front of a restaurant.  A note was found in its place, supposedly written by the scarecrow announcing a need for a travel vacation and that someone needed to find out where he would be.

            A few days later photos arrived at the restaurant, again supposedly sent by the scarecrow, of his travels. The photos are poorly taken and not focusing primarily on the scarecrow or identification of his whereabouts.

            Enter three children known as Three Cousins Detective Club who are asked to solve this mystery.  What it ends up being is that the photos are pieces to a puzzle to tell the whereabouts of the scarecrow.  Each photo has words or letters, which spell out a sentence.  The hard part for the kids was the fact that they were working on a puzzle without a main picture to refer to.

            I’m reminded of life in the Old Testament during the time of the prophets.  As Isaiah, Jeremiah and the others foretold events that would take place, most of the people were unsure of what it meant and tried to piece the prophecies to their time events.

            For example in Isa. 7: 13-16, “And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David: Is it a small thing for you to weary men, that ye will weary my God also?  14. Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.  15. Butter and honey shall he eat, when he knoweth to refuse the evil, and choose the good.  16. For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land whose two kings thou abhorrest shall be forsaken.”

            Although this prophecy foretold of the birth of Jesus, the people then didn’t know this and attempted to connect it to their time. Even the prophets themselves sometimes didn’t understand what they were foretelling.  They were given pieces of the puzzle but had no end picture to reference by.  In New Testament times, as prophecies were fulfilled they were able to refer back to the Old Testament scriptures for these pieces.

            I watched a debate in which a Baptist preacher used the similar concept of puzzle pieces to deny the need for baptism for salvation.  He referenced that the word ‘Believe’ appeared 90+ times in the book of John alone.  And these were the pieces needed to complete this puzzle.  The problem I see with this is all of these 90 pieces are the exact same piece.  His challenge to his opponent was to name one verse, which holds all of the steps for salvation.

            Although this is not possible, it is also not necessary.  But let’s look at a couple verses; ones all should be familiar with.  In Mark 16: 16 Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.” And in Acts 2: 38 the apostle Peter declared, “Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”  In both of these verses the word, ‘Baptize’ is quoted which makes it one piece of the puzzle.  ‘Believe’ is found in one verse and ‘Repent’ in found in the other verse.  Therefore both of these words, in addition to ‘Baptize’, are all pieces to the same puzzle.

            In addition, the other puzzle pieces are ‘Hear’, ‘Obey’, and ‘Live faithfully’.  Each piece is different from the other and each is just as important as the other to complete the picture, which is right in front of you.  Which puzzle would you prefer?  95 of the same piece that won’t fit together or 6 pieces that makes up the picture that God created?  The choice is yours.