Facing the Future

Are you facing the future with confidence?

Over the years I have learned to expect the unexpected in facing the future. Many a family outing, vacation, or dinner out has been interrupted by some unexpected development.

James, the brother of our Lord, addressed the matter of facing the future when he wrote: “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4:13-14).

We don’t know what tomorrow holds, but that is not to say that we should not look beyond today. Every farmer plants in spring with an eye to fall. It is not only all right to be looking to and facing the future, it is essential. James, however, did go on to advise his readers to preface their plans with the acknowledgment that all is subject to the Lord’s will (James 4:15).

Why do we need be facing the future? As parents, we need to plan for our children’s education. As fathers, we need to plan for our families in case of our untimely death. We need to plan for retirement. At some point in our lives our bodies will no longer function to the extent that we can continue to work and support ourselves. We would like to retire while we can still enjoy retirement. That requires planning and facing the future. The fact is, no one plans to fail, but far too many fail to plan. And, as a result, their dreams don’t come true.

But, the most important planning we do is for eternity.  Yet, this is the area folks seem to put off longest. In fact, many never get around to it at all. They just don’t want to be facing the future that awaits. However, when life is over, and it can end for us at any time, it will be too late.

We can confidently face the future only when we live in the present! Someone has written: “Today is the day I have been looking for. All my life has been spent in preparation for it. Yesterday and tomorrow are faraway nothings – the one a faint memory, the other a vague promise. But this is my day. It offers all that God has to give, and I’m a laggard or a coward if I fail to make the most of it.”

Too many of us spend so much time reliving yesterday or daydreaming about tomorrow that we forget about today. The past cannot be undone, and the future is forever unknown. But today, that’s a different story. It is in our grasp and we must not waste it! Please understand, I am not implying that we forget the past or fail to look to the future. I am suggesting that we give more attention to the present. If we do, the past will be remembered with greater fondness, and the future will hold greater promise.

Stop fretting about yesterday and tomorrow, and focus on today. Today is all we have. What are we going to do with it?

• Today is the day to mend a broken relationship.
• Today is the day to speak an encouraging word or write a hope filled note.
• Today is the day to let your mate, your children, and your grandchildren know how much they are loved.
• Today is the day to put your best foot forward at home, at school, at work.
• Today is the day to put your life right with God (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Take care of today and tomorrow will take care of itself. Take the action you need to in order to be facing the future with confidence.

Salvation:  Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully