Hope for the Future

 

1 Chronicles 26–27; Micah 4; Luke 13;  2 Peter 1

Since most of the future is hidden, I’ve always found it difficult to plan for it. In years past, many times my plans were changed or interrupted or cancelled because I had no idea that something else was going to happen. At the same time, I’m learning that negative  thoughts concerning what might be next are not a good idea either. Like yesterday, I can become despondent, feeling hopeless or at least frustrated. I think and work better by focusing on “the next thing” rather than being like some chess players who plan many moves ahead.

However, God’s word does give some hints about the future. Most Christians are careful about how we interpret those hints and we certainly cannot mark them into a calendar. Even so, we know we are in those “latter days” and can look forward to “Thy kingdom come” in its fullness. Micah says this about the King . . .

It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and it shall be lifted up above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it, and many nations shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. (Micah 4:1–2)

Other passages speak of the glory of Christ’s coming again, but also that we who believe will experience persecution. This is already happening. Some estimate between 3000 and 100,000 are put to death each year because of their faith. That high number includes groups that profess but may not possess genuine faith. However, what persecutors do not realize is that all true believers never die and those who are killed will reign forever in eternity with Jesus.

Micah points out another thing that the enemies of Christianity do not realize. While His people suffer chastening for sin and even were exiled to Babylon because of it, God says this:

 . . .  you shall go to Babylon. There you shall be rescued; there the Lord will redeem you from the hand of your enemies. Now many nations are assembled against you, saying, “Let her be defiled, and let our eyes gaze upon Zion.” But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord; they do not understand his plan, that he has gathered them as sheaves to the threshing floor. (Micah 4:10–12)

When Jesus came, His life and ministry pointed to a future where the kingdom of God began small and grew. He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches . . . . To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.” (Luke 13:18–21)

Much of that has already happened. His rule began in the lives of His disciples, a handful of men who told others until the church began with a few hundred. Today’s estimate is 32% of the world’s population or billions of people who call themselves Christian. Even if this number is inflated because of imitations and false teachers making claims, the mustard seed has certainly become a tree!

And the persecutions have also increased. To this, the Bible encourages our fears:

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 5:6–11)

Because of my relationship with God, I can stand. Knowing that others stand with me in our faith helps. Knowing that God will “himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish” me also helps. He keeps making wonderful promises:

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. (2 Peter 1:3–4)

APPLY: I can stand. Sometimes I crumble, but He picks me up and puts me back together, ready for another round of spiritual war but also of spiritual joy knowing that no matter what happens, He has made me His child, brought me into His kingdom, and given me eternal life.