Wisdom for the Future // Wisdom to Transform Your Life, Part 10

A Different Perspective Official Podcast

If only we could see into the future. If only we knew what was coming so we could prepare for it. And yet, would you really want to know what’s coming? Would you really want to know the day and the hour of your death? I don’t think so. What we need you and I is some real wisdom, when it comes to our futures.

If the truth be known, our past is completely out of our control. Of all the things in our lives that are out of our control, the past is the biggest one. Because no matter what you do, you can’t change the past.

And so what many people do, is they turn their attention to the future. What’s going to happen? What’s next? Will it be something good or something bad? I mean, we’re always hoping for good things.

Our default position is that life should be a bed of roses 100% of the time. But, you know, there are little things that niggle away at us. A dark cloud emerging over there. An ill wind blowing here. And before you know it, you’re worrying about your future.

In fact if you took stocktake of your thoughts over just the next twenty-four hours, you might well be surprised just how much of your time, you spend worrying about your future. So if you perhaps have those negative thoughts swilling around in your head and in your heart, here’s a Word from God, to set you free – because that’s what God’s Word does. It sets us free in a way that nothing else, in a way that no one else can do.

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? (Matthew 6:25-26)

Good question there Jesus. Who by worrying can add a single hour to their life? In other words – worrying doesn’t produce a single positive outcome. Not a one. In fact, these days, doctors will tell you that worry causes stress and stress can actually cut your life short.

Do you believe that God loves you or not? Well if you do, then you can get on and live your life as though that’s true, because it is. He does love you. According to Jesus – not me you understand – according to Jesus, He will provide your every need. And that means that you no longer need to worry about anything.

So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (Matthew 6:34)

There’s absolutely no point in worrying about tomorrow. There are no surprises there for God. There’s nothing there that He can’t handle. Keep your eyes on today … and be the best you that you can be, today.

Because your ultimate tomorrow, your ultimate destiny is a heavenly prize that is beyond anything that you or I could imagine.

When we think about the future, mostly we just think about our future here on this earth. That’s what appears so important at the moment. What’s going to happen to my health? My finances? My marriage? My children? Where am I going to live if things don’t go the way I’d planned?

We have plans you see and anything that looks like it’s going to disrupt those plans – even if, actually, God has something much better for us than we’d planned – we get all touchy and we worry about it.

But let’s lift our eyes for a moment, and look at the eternal destiny that God has for you and me. Because eternity, compared to our days here on this earth, is an incredibly long time. Right?

Yes, we suffer on this earth. Yes, there are tears, there’s pain, there are things in your life right now that you wouldn’t have wished upon yourself. But they’re there and that’s it.

And in the middle of that reality, in the middle of your reality, God has this to say to you today:

I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. (Romans 8:18)

There’s just no comparison between then and now. Because one day, one day in the not too distant future,

… the home of God will be among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things [will] have passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4)

That’s where your life is headed if you believe in Jesus. That’s the ultimate destiny. That’s the certain hope, the rock–solid, certain hope that God is giving you today and I believe that He wants you and me to accept that certain hope into our hearts right now. Whatever suffering you are travelling through right now, you have a future that is beyond anything that you can ever imagine, ready and waiting for you.

And Jesus has gone ahead to get things ready:

In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. (John 14:2-3)

So, my friend, take courage today. Your life is headed towards an eternity in the Presence of God. An eternity where you will worship Him, enjoy Him, be with Him … without end.

And the sufferings o this time are not worth comparing with that glory that will be revealed to you. Soon.

God has such an amazing future planned for you and me. It’s a future that Jesus died to purchase for us on that cross. It’s a future that He rose again to give us so that we could have the gift of eternal life.

When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labour is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:54-58)

You see the eternal future that’s coming our way is meant to make a powerful difference to the way we live our lives no. Therefore, be steadfast and immovable. Therefore, because of the eternity that’s coming your way, excel in the work of the Lord because you know that it’s not in vain.

So many people worry about their futures, when in fact, in Christ, their future is secure. So many people believe in Jesus, they believe that they’re saved, but they don’t let that faith impact the certainty with which they live. The hope with which they love. The power with which they live. The joy with which they live.

Friend if you believe in Jesus you have such a future … such a future ready wand waiting for you today. Live your life with that future in mind. Life your life with the certainty of that future filling your heart. When you shed this earthly body of sickness and sin, you will put on eternal, imperishability and spend that eternity in the Presence of the Living God for ever and ever and ever Amen! Hallelujah!