Know the future?

 

READ Acts 21-24

The popularity of astrology, fortune-telling, even the media pundits who try to predict the outcome of sporting events and political elections reveal that human desire to know the future. Those who presume to be wiser say that if we did, we would try to change it and likely mess it up. The fact of the matter? If God or anyone else revealed the future and we could change it, it would be a false revelation.

The Apostle Paul must have known this. When he was told his future by someone who claimed the information came from God, Paul realized if he changed it, then God would be telling him something that would not happen and God does not do that!

And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ” When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.” (Acts 21:11–14)

This incident reminds me of a time we were going to move to a certain city. We were told of a house we could rent and the Lord assured me that this would be our new home. Then we were told it had already been rented. Yet I knew we would live in it. After a few days, the lease fell through and the house was ours. I’d had no doubt that it would be; God is not a false prophet and I knew my assurance was not presumption. Even if I should hear from Him that negative things are ahead, like the disciples heard what would happen to Paul, my attitude should be, Let the will of the Lord be done!

Paul teaches me another thing; how he knew what to do when under threat from the Jewish religious leaders. He was not in the dark regarding what they believed and used it to redirect their focus from destroying him. They wound up arguing within their ranks:

Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.” And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. (Acts 23:6–7)

In our day, persecution sometimes comes from groups that call themselves Christian but they are false teachers, either cults or with beliefs that do not come from the Scriptures or the enlightening power of the Holy Spirit. While it is seldom wise to study the ideas of false teachers, as I encounter them do I know enough about what they believe to redirect any attack they might be making against my faith? Or do I naively suppose they are ‘different but okay’? Tearing a page from Paul’s example, it is wise to understand enough that I can defend what God says even if it requires creating a diversion.

A third instruction from this passage relates to the first one. God did reveal to the dangers of going ahead as he was instructed. He would suffer at the hands of Gentiles, even more, but he was not afraid of the will of God, nor of dying. Besides, God also told him some good news:

The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” (Acts 23:11)

Yes, he would be persecuted and this did happen, but the Lord reassured him that he would also take the Gospel where he’d hoped to take it. Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” (Acts 19:21)

That desire of his heart was not mere ambition; it was the directing power of God. This tells me to pay attention. My assignments will not have the same importance as his, yet if God tells me what to expect and even if it is negative, I can be confident that He will stand by me no matter what happens.

 

All I need to know about the future . . .

Deuteronomy 15; Psalm 102; Isaiah 42: Revelation 12

Today’s prayer asks for protection from my darkness. Odd request. I don’t know what my darkness is but do know what I am in the dark about: I don’t know what will happen to my family in the future, and I am in the dark about my own future. It seems the Lord anticipated these questions so gave me today’s devotional readings.

First, God cares about future generations. He speaks through the psalmist: “Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord.” (Psalm 102:18) This psalm tells me that He hears the prayers of the destitute that we might praise His name. He also says, “The children of (My) servants shall dwell secure; their offspring shall be established before (Me).” (Psalm 102:28)

The Bible says much about the future and how it will turn out:

Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law. (Isaiah 42:1–4)

He says, “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations” (Isaiah 42:6) speaking of Jesus whom He will “give as a covenant for the people, alight for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon” and who will “lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known” guiding them and “turning the darkness before them into light and the rough places into level ground” with a promise to never forsake them. (Isaiah 42)

The Son showed up and initiated the new covenant, keeping this and all the promises God made through His prophets. He gives me clues for the future in these passages. One is that God will take care of the next generation. His eternal power and faithfulness will keep the many promises He makes to that end.

Two, He said He would sent His chosen One and He did. Jesus came and I need not to grow faint of be discouraged until He establishes justice in the earth — and do we need justice!

Three, He will lead me, even when all seems dark. He will not forsake me. Even the prince of darkness cannot harm me. That promise is made near the end of the New Testament:

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” (Revelation 12:7–12, italics mine)

God says that Satan deceives the whole world and is busy accusing God’s people before Him all the time. But he is conquered, first by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for my sin, then by my testimony of faith in Christ, a faith that I am willing to die for. Because of Jesus, the darkness represented by this liar and destroyer cannot ruin me. He tries and his attempts are persistent and relentless, but he knows his time is short. He will not defeat me or other people of God, nor our children or our children’s children.

APPLY: I have a responsibility to love and obey God, to love others like He loves me. I cannot ‘save’ anyone but I can point others to the Savior who is able to rescue them from sin and death. God, protect me from the enemy who would ruin my testimony if he could, and stop me from loving You if he could. I’m so thankful that in his darkness he seems oblivious to Your great power.