On New Year’s Eve newspapers often print the predictions of noted psychics for the coming year.  But how many of those predictions actually come true?

A few years ago I read an article titled, “The Shattered Crystal Ball.”  The author analyzed the accuracy of the top ten psychics whose prophecies were published over a three-year period.  He said 98% of all their predictions were totally incorrect!  Only 2 % came true and 6 of 10 psychics were wrong 100% of the time.

Finite human beings can’t predict the future.  No one knows who is going to win the 2014 NCAA football championship, what the stock market will do this week or exactly what the weather is going to be a week from now.

Global warming theorists were predicting that 2013 was going to be the worst year ever for hurricanes.  It was one of the mildest.

Only God can accurately predict the future.  “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.  I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please” (Isaiah 46:9-10).

Only God can predict with 100% accuracy what the future will bring.  For example, think about the detailed Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah that were literally fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Keep in mind that the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, was completed under the reign of Ptolemy Philadelphus (285-246 B.C.), so we know these prophecies were written hundreds of years prior to the time of Christ.  They weren’t inserted later.

 1. Jesus would come from the seed of Abraham.  (Genesis 22:18)

2. The Scripture goes on to specify the Messiah will come through the seed of Isaac, one of two sons of Abraham.  From Isaac’s two sons he will come through Jacob.  Of Jacob’s 12 sons he will come through the line of Judah.  From Judah’s descendants he will come through the lineage of Jesse, then of Jesse’s 8 sons he will come from the house of David.    Those predicted ancestors were all forefathers of Jesus. 

3. The Messiah will be born of a virgin.  (Isaiah 7:14)

4. He would be born in Bethlehem.  (Micah 5:2)

5. He would be presented gifts at His birth.  (Psalm 72:10)

6. There would be great mourning when the Messiah came.   (Jeremiah 31:15)  “Weeping would be heard in Ramah.”  That was fulfilled when King Herod killed baby boys two years and under.

7. The Messiah would be preceded by a messenger who resembled Elijah (John the Baptist)  (Malachi 3:1)

8. The Messiah will perform miracles.  (Isaiah 35:5)

9. He would teach in parables.  (Psalm 78:2)

10. He would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey.  (Zechariah 9:9)

     11. He would be betrayed by a friend.  (Psalm 41:9)

     12. He would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver.  (Zechariah 11:13)

     13. He would be forsaken by friends.  (Zechariah 13:7)

     14. He would be falsely accused.  (Psalm 35:11)

     15. He would be silent before his accusers.  (Isaiah 53:7)

     16. The coming king would be spit upon.  (Isaiah 50:6)

     17. He would be wounded.  (Isaiah 53:5)

     18. The Messiah would be mocked.  (Psalm 22:7-8)

     19. Psalm 22 Predicted the Messiah’s crucifixion even before crucifixion was invented.  (Psalm 22:16-17) “…they have pierced my hands and my feet”.

     20. He would be crucified with thieves.  (Isa 53:12)

     21. His enemies would shake their head in scorn.  (Psalm 109:25)

     22. Some would cast lots for his garments.  (Psalm 22:18)

     23. He would be forsaken in death.  (Psalm 22:1)

     24. Not a bone of his body would be broken.  (Psalm 34:20)

     26. His side would be pierced.  (Zechariah 12:10)

     27. A weird darkness would fall over the land.  (Amos 8:9)

     28. He would be buried in a rich man’s tomb.  (Isaiah 53:9)

     29. He would be raised from the dead.  (Psalm 16:10)

     30 The Messiah would ascend into heaven.  (Psalm 68:18)

     31. He would be seated at the right hand of God.  (Psalm 110:1)

Those thirty-one specific prophecies were written hundreds of years before Jesus was born.  What are the odds of those being fulfilled in one man?

In his book, Armageddon, Appointment With Destiny, Mathematician Grant Jeffrey speculates the odds of these specific predictions about Jesus coming true accidentally in one man are one in ten billion times a billion.

He illustrates it like this.  Let’s say I take your diamond ring and leave for two weeks.  When I return I say, “Your diamond has been thrown into one of the five major oceans of the world.  You go find it.  Here’s a fishing pole with as long a line as you like.  You get one cast.”

Your chances of coming up with that diamond are the same as those prophecies about Jesus coming true accidentally.  All those predictions about the Messiah coming true in Jesus is a miracle that confirms the Bible as God’s Word.

“Therefore I told you these things long ago; before they happened I announced them to you so that you could not say, ‘My idols did them… (Isaiah 48:5)

As you enter a new year, don’t give heed to psychics, palm readers or astrologers who claim to know your future.  Put your trust in God and allow His divinely inspired word to direct your path.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).