THE LITTLE MAN WITH THE BIG FUTURE

Most everyone who has attended a few Vacation Bible Schools during their childhood, has heard of that "wee little man" named Zacchaeus.  All that we know about him is found in ten verses of Luke's Gospel.   
"And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.  And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.  And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.  And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.  And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.  And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.  And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.  And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.  And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.  For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Lk. 19:1-10).

This event occurred just before the Lord's "Triumphal Entry" into Jerusalem.  Jesus had raised Lazarus (Jn. 11:1-53), ministered in Ephraim (Jn. 11:54), crossed the Jordan to minister in Perea (Mt. 19:1), recrossed the Jordan and was ministering in Jericho when Zacchaeus heard He was coming.  As I reread the story again, I noticed that Zaccheus had probably heard about Jesus, and he was curious to see the Man about whom everyone was talking.  He didn't know Jesus, but Jesus knew him! 

That is also true about all of us!  Most of the unsaved have heard of Jesus; they do not know Him, but He knows them!  He knows every single man, woman, and child perfectly (Jn. 17:24; Eph. 1:4; Rev. 13:8).  He knows we are sinners (Rom. 3:23), and yet, even in our sinful state, He loved us and died for us (Rom. 5:8)!  We didn't deserve it, and we cannot earn it - our salvation is a gift motivated by God's love for us (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:4, 8-9; 5:2; 2 Thes. 2:16; 1 Jn. 4:10-11, 19; Rev. 1:5)!

Today, there is not a tree tall enough for man to see Jesus.  If someone really wants to "see Him," he must observe Jesus living in born again believers, AND he must believe them when they share the Gospel which can save them (Rom. 1:16; 10:8-17; 1 Cor. 15:1-4).

Are you living your life in a way that allows others to be drawn to Jesus?