To Encourage You

John 14:28 “You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.”         

Do you think much about the future?  Many people try not to think about it too much.  Worrying about what’s going to happen in the future dominates the thoughts of many.  People will go to great lengths to deal with these fears.  Therapists, not to mention fortune-tellers, make a career in their work to soothe the fears of those anxious about tomorrow. 

What about the Christian?  What thoughts should he or she have about the future?  The Bible tells us much to help us in this area.  For one, God alone knows the future. Only he knows what’s going to happen tomorrow, and the next day, and every day until the end of time as we know it.  By contrast, not one of us knows the future.  James 4:14 tells us clearly “you do not know what tomorrow will bring.”  However, the fact that the Christian knows the one who does know the future is a source of immeasurable hope and joy to them, for the sovereign God has given the believer one promise after another regarding what is to come.  The believer alone can say at times when thoughts of depression creep in “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God (Psalm 43:5).”  The believer knows that “for those who love God all things work together for good (Romans 8:28).”  And this confidence doesn’t end on this side of death, for we know that it is “far better” to be with Christ (Philippians 1:23), and “to die is gain (Philippians 1:21).” 

Jesus spoke the words of John 14 above just before he went to the cross. In the shadow of the cross he spoke with the confident joy of one who knew the future. What an incredible joy it is to know the all-powerful God who has promised the believer in his Word “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).” 

Is this your perspective on the future?  If not, it can be, if you would but place your faith and trust in Christ.