The Road Of Last Opportunities

A group of men were amusing themselves by telling stories of robbers. One of these men was Voltaire. After listening to many such stories, he said he could tell a story to top them all. And so he began: "Once upon a time...there was a tax‑collector." And then he stopped! At first there was silence, and then they all joined in laughter. Yes, surely this was the biggest robber‑story of all.

In the days of Zacchaeus, people would surely have agreed. Jesus came along one day, and Zacchaeus heard the commotion. How lonely can you be when you are the richest man in town. He was curious and he went out to watch. But he was short, and could not see. He climbed a sycamore tree...and they all laughed at him and jeered.

But Jesus saw him, and said, "Zacchaeus, come down." And he even went to dine with him, while the critics watched and condemned.

How do you deal with evil people? There is an old fable about the sun and the wind. Each claimed to be stronger than the other. They saw a man walking along, with a heavy cloak. The challenge was made to see who could get him to take off his cloak. The wind blew and stormed and raged, but the man only wrapped his coat about himself more tightly. And then the sun shone kindly and warmly upon the man, until he voluntarily removed the cloak.

The hymn‑writer has said it well:

Down in the human heart,
Crushed by the tempter,
Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;
Touched by a loving heart,
Wakened by kindness,
Chords that were broken will vibrate once more.

Zacchaeus found joy that day. And whatever else we may miss in life, let us not miss this highest and purest of all joys, the joy of knowing the Savior.

The Sycamore Tree Pulpit preaches many truths, but one especially reminds us that we must not wait for a later time. "Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down." He could have waited until he had more information. He could have reasoned that he ought to wait until Jesus came through Jericho on his next rounds. But this would never have happened, because he was on his way to Jerusalem to be crucified!

On a trip up a mountain‑side, a traveler was confronted with a cold, fresh stream of water, gushing forth from the rock. And next to it was a sign, "Last water, before reaching the top!"

We are always on that road of last opportunities. Jesus of Nazareth is passing by. Would you like to see him? Would you like to express your love for Him? Would you like to make sure your life is hid with God in Christ? Would you like to have the joy that Zacchaeus found on that special day when tax‑collector and robber that he was, he decided to let Jesus into his home and his heart forever?