.......see

     The story is told about three accountants who doubted their three engineer friends. They were traveling by train to a conference. The accountants bought three tickets, but the engineers only bought one. "How are three people going to travel on only one ticket?" an accountant asked.

     "Watch and you'll see," said an engineer.

     They all boarded the train. The accountants took their seats, but the three engineers crammed into a restroom and closed the door behind them. The train departed the station and soon the conductor came through the car asking for tickets. He knocked on the restroom door and said, "Ticket, please." The door opened a crack and a single arm emerges with a ticket in hand. The conductor took it and moved on.

     The accountants agreed that this is a rather clever idea so after the conference, they decided to duplicate the engineers' feat. They bought only one ticket, but were astonished when the engineers bought no ticket at all!  "How are you going to travel without a ticket?" the accountants asked. "Watch and you'll see," replied the engineers.

     When they boarded the train, the accountants crammed into a restroom with their ticket while the three engineers did the same in a nearby restroom.  After the train departed the station, one of the engineers left the restroom and walked over to the restroom where the accountants were hiding.  He knocked on the door and said, "Ticket, please."

     Watch and you'll see.

     I wonder how many times those words have been spoken by our Lord throughout the centuries.  I imagine there were many questions that were asked by the angels in heaven that received those words as a response.  "God, how are you going to deliver the Israelites from the hands of the powerful Egyptians?"  "Watch and you'll see."  "What is your plan to bring about man's salvation?"  "Watch and you'll see."  "Your Son, Jesus, has been born a helpless baby in a poor, powerless family.  How can he possibly make a difference in this world?"  "Watch and you'll see."

     And I'm sure Jesus must have spoken those words countless times to his apostles.  "Lord, this man has leprosy.  That one is a paralytic.  What can possibly be done to help them?"  "Watch and you'll see."  "Jesus, this woman's son has already died.  Surely there is nothing you can do."  "Watch and you'll see."  "Jesus, if you're crucified, how can you possibly save the world?"  "Watch and you'll see."

     In fact, I suspect those same words have been spoken to you and to me at difficult times in our lives that we questioned God.  "God, how can I go on living without someone I love so dearly by my side?"  "Watch and you'll see."  "How can I cope in the midst of all this physical or emotional pain?"  "Watch and you'll see."  "God, this addiction has a hold on me and I don't see any way that I'll ever have the strength to conquer it."  "Watch and you'll see."

     "He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps.  He has put a new song in my mouth -- praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the LORD.  Blessed is that man who makes the LORD his trust..." (Psalm 42:1-3)

     Watch and you'll see!

-alan smith