Do Not Fear the Future, the Best is Yet to Come
Cutting wood to heat our log cabin of a house was a chore every Saturday at our home. I usually did not mind because I wanted to be warm on cold nights. But on this particular Saturday I was anxious to get finished because I had plans. I had a date to take my girl friend to see “Love Story”. What could go wrong? What went wrong was the tree dad was trying to cut down hung up in another tree. Now we have to get the tractor involved taking much more time, I informed my dad I would be leaving soon. He told me in no uncertain terms that I was not going anywhere until the tree was down and cut up. I told him I had plans. He turned the saw off and started walking towards me. I did not know what was going to happen but I knew it would not be pleasant. He said, “I am going to teach you a lesson you will not forget.” “Oh no, here it comes.” I thought. Then he said, “The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray. Now, get back to work.” I missed my date and learned an important lesson, “The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray”.
The future is uncertain and can be frightening because it is unknown. Our plans do not always work out and unexpected tragedies befall us. The prophet Jeremiah sent a letter to the people of Judah as they sat by the rivers of Babylon grieving because the temple and Jerusalem had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar (See Psalm 137). They had been carried away to Babylon in fulfillment of the prophecy of Jeremiah because they had neglected God and turned to idols. In the letter, (Jeremiah 29:1-14) he told them to get on with their lives, go into business, get married, have children and grandchildren. He said they should pray for the people and cities of Babylon. Why should they get on their lives? Because being carried to Babylon was part of God’s plan. He said he has a purpose for them and that He also would bring them back to Jerusalem at the proper time. He gives them this promise:
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.[b] I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
Jeremiah 29:11-14
You can be sure that at some moment in 2024 your best laid plans will go astray. Unexpected tragedies and triumphs will roll into your life at the most unexpected and inconvenient times. How we respond to disappointments and disasters gives witness to either our faith or our fear. If we believe God does have a plan, a purpose and a promise we will survive and prosper even in the most trying of times. The resurrection has revealed to us our future. God has given us the victory in Christ.
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”[a] for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” 5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”.
Revelation 21:1-5
Do not fear the future. God is already there waiting to carry you through to the home He has prepared for you.
In His Service,
-Milan
