At one time or another, most of us wish we knew the future. Some people spend money for such things as palm reading and horoscopes, even hoping the piece of paper in a fortune cookie will give them an inkling of what to expect.
This morning’s devotional verse
started me thinking about what I know about the future, and more importantly,
what I’m supposed to do about that knowledge. The verse is from the account of
three messengers from God who appeared to Abraham, whose nephew, Lot, was
living in the wicked city of Sodom.
The Bible calls these messengers ‘angels’
yet one of them is called the Angel of the Lord. Many have determined that this
special angel was a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ. In this story, the
three angels discuss the future and…
The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do…” (Genesis 18:17)
Evidently they decided to reveal at
least part of their plans to this man because Abraham begins talking to the
Lord, asking that He will have mercy on at least some of the people in that wicked
city. No doubt he is thinking of Lot and his family.
As I read this, I thought about my
own understanding of the future and how I need to talk to God about that in
relation to those in my family who are living in a sinful world. This is what God
reveals about His future plans…
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. (John 5:24)
He has life for those who believe in Jesus
and judgment for those who do not. The Bible could not be more clear; this is
the plan of God. He hides it from some, but reveals it to those who have faith
like Abraham.
So what do I do with that knowledge?
The above verse also answers this question. People need to hear His Word so
they can believe. How can they hear if no one tells them? The Bible is clear on
this; those who believe must share what we believe with others. God sends me
right into the places where my loved ones live to share His Word with them.
For this, God reveals that I must go
to sinners. I cannot consider myself ‘holier than thou’ and dismiss to their
fate those who are headed for judgment. Jonah did that and wound up in the
belly of a fish! Yet at the same time, sharing Christ without discernment isn’t
God’s plan either. He has a strong warning about sharing the gospel with those
who have already rejected it: “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw
your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack
you” (Matthew 7:6).
In the story of Abraham, this man seemed
to know that Lot was or would become a righteous man (2 Peter 2:7) so Abraham also
prayed for him, asking God to deliver him. He also seemed to know that the other
residents of Sodom were evil and he offered no prayer for them. If God gave an
unusual revelation to Abraham, that had to be it. He knew who to pray for and
who to leave out.
For me, this is a reason for wanting
three angels to come for a visit! I know that some “religious” people are not
going to have eternal life. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will
enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is
in heaven” (Matthew 7:21) and that many “tax collectors and sinners” will be
there. I can intercede as Abraham prayed but God has hidden from me the
knowledge of who will be saved and who will experience His wrath.
Lord, there are times when the burden
of those headed for future judgment totally overwhelms me and I want to take a
vacation from caring about the fate of others. Intercession is hard work. Yet You
tell me to pray. You also sent Jesus to live in me. Because He lives forever, I
will live forever. Because He also lives forever to intercede for me, how can I
not do the same for others?
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