Historical Posts
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
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Expecting the Unexpected
What are you expecting?
Over the years my family and I have learned we should be expecting the unexpected. Many a family outing, vacation, or dinner out has been interrupted by some development we were not expecting. It may be a death, an accident, or something else, but in spite of our best laid plans, something invariably goes awry.
James, the brother of our Lord, addressed this matter 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 really don’t know what tomorrow holds.
That is not to say, however, that we should not look beyond today. Every farmer plants in spring with an eye to fall. It is not only all right to look to the future expecting a result, but it’s 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). What you are expecting may not happen. The unexpected could come up.
Why do we need to look to 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 should be expecting this. We would like to retire while we can still enjoy retirement. That requires planning. 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 treat the subject as if it has to be unexpected. I don’t intend to make that mistake. Jesus offers a plan for life that will prepare us for eternity, so that we can know what we should be expecting. To the best of my ability, I intend to follow his plan. Do you? When life is over, and it can end for us at any time, it will be too late.
If you are going to follow Jesus, the time to start is now.
Tomorrow may be too late! What are you expecting based on the plans you have put into action?
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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I Wonder
“God will not permit man to have a knowledge of things to come; for if man had a foresight of his prosperity, he would become arrogant and careless; and if he had an understanding of his adversity, he would become listless and despairing” (Saint Augustine of Hippo).
For many years I have kept a log of my daily activities
I log things like where I’ve been, who I’ve seen, and what has happened in relationship to my work. Every now and then I review the record. As I get older, I find myself revisiting the past with greater frequency. I also find myself wondering about the future. What lies ahead?
You may wonder why I keep revisiting the past
The answer is that it helps me stay focused on the present and prepared for the future. Who among us will not be here in another year? Who will face declining health, a financial setback, or the loss of a loved one this year? Who will be blessed by the birth of a baby? Who will experience the joy of wedded bliss, or the heartbreak of divorce? Who will move into our community, and who will move away? I can’t answer any of those questions, and yet I know they are all part of what the future holds.
How will we respond to what lies ahead?
Only time will tell! James wrote: Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”-yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil (James 4:13-16).
It is not wrong to think about the future, but we must not exclude God from it
He is in control. We are not. It is only when we understand His sovereignty and power that we can face the future with hope and confidence. This life at best is brief. Whether blessings or burdens come our way, neither stay for long. Therefore, we will not boast of our blessings or bemoan our burdens. We will acknowledge the hand of God in all, and simply say, “Your will be done!”
Leave the future to God
It was George Macdonald who wrote: “No man ever sank under the burden of the day. It is when tomorrow’s burden is added to the burden of today that the weight is more than a man can bear. Never load yourself so. If you find yourself so loaded, at least remember this: it is your own doing, not God’s. He begs you to leave the future to him, and mind the present.” Good advice! I wonder how many of us will heed it.
— Roger
MARCH 4, 2012
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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