What Do You Know About the Future?
Life is very short; our futures all unknown. None of us know what will happen tomorrow, or even if we will be here to see it. None of us can know for sure what tomorrow may bring in reference to political issues, cultural issues, or personal health, safety, family, and/or financial issues; anything and everything from national disasters to natural dilemmas; and even when it comes to such life and death issues as the passing of loved ones or even our own, personal demise – we just simply cannot, and do not, know.
What do you know about the Future?
James 4:13-14 states this truth very clearly: “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”
King Solomon also confirms this same truth in Ecclesiastes 9:11-12, wherein he states: “The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all. For man also does not know his time: Like fish taken in a cruel net, like birds caught in a snare, so the sons of men are snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them.”
The brevity, concerns, and definite uncertainties of this earthly life – all of tomorrow’s inestimable unknowns if you will – can make for a very scary, fragile, vulnerable, and joyless existence today. But it doesn’t have to be that way. That is definitely not how God wants or intends for us to live (John 15:11, 16:33, 17:13; Philippians 4:4-13). Hence;He “has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him” (2 Peter 1:3). It is such a knowledge of Him that multiplies our peace in all circumstances (2 Peter 1:2). Such knowledge, and the belief or faith in Him which is the natural result or outcome of such knowledge, can only come about, and to fruition,through an honest and in-depth study of His word (Romans 10:17).
You see, the eternal truths that we can come to absolutely know, understand, and implement into our lives when we get into a consistent and in-depth study of His word, are so incredibly powerful, that they have the ability to help crush, overwhelm, and overcome, all of our doubts and uncertainties regarding tomorrow’s un-knowns!
For example, it is only through an in-depth study of God’s word, that we come to KNOW:the truth that will set us free from all those things (John 8:31-32). To KNOW:the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, in order that we may be filled with all the goodness of God (Ephesians 3:19). To KNOW: that all things work together for good, to those who love God and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). To KNOW: Him, and the power of His resurrection, that we, too, might attain to the resurrection from the dead (Phil. 3:10-12). To KNOW: for certain, that even when we die, we have a home awaiting us in Heaven (2 Corinthians 5:1-9; Philippians 1:21-24). In fact, the Apostle John wrote that the very reason for his writings was so that those who were in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 1:3-14), could KNOW, for certain, that they have eternal life (1 John 5:11-13)!
Are you in Christ (Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:26-27)? Do you have Biblical questions (2 Timothy 2:15)? Are you troubled about tomorrow’s innumerable and potentially catastrophic unknowns (Matthew 6:25-34)? Do you KNOW, for sure – are you absolutely and positively certain – that were you to leave this earth tomorrow, that you would be in heaven forever- according to the word of God that is?