The Beauty of the Future
Looking forward gives us hope today
There is a unique perspective that Christians also have when it comes to the future. Our greatest joy comes in the future, being with Christ forever in the presence of God. Like Christ, we too, can despise the current shame of this fallen life and, for the joy set before, can venture forth and proclaim the glory of the Gospel. How beautiful is a life lived like that? If God is for us, who can be against us? When we look beyond our present circumstances and see the future of what it will be, our life, lived forever with God, then what can this world do to us? After all, we are promised pain and suffering in this life. We know it is coming, but we are not sure what form it will take. Similarly, we know our future, we know what is coming (our death and glorification) and we are sure what form it will take (eternal life with Christ). This is the beauty of the Future, that we can look and hope through any circumstances that we encounter in this life.
One of the distinct beauties of the future is the great reminder it gives us in the present. We are to remember what Christ has done in the past, accomplished through partaking in communion, and this past work serves as a present reminder of our state. Also, our future life with Christ upon our death or his future return is remembered whenever we participate in communion and fellowship together. Christ has promised that he will return and this future event is one of our present motivations. Just like Peter states in his epistle that we are to pray and watch diligently for the coming time.
Another aspect of the Future that is wonderful to behold is how it makes the present easier to bear when times are difficult and it makes good times sweeter. In difficulty, we long and hope for a time when the world will be made anew and that sin, pain, and death will be no more. God’s love reigns supreme over all things everywhere. This enables Christians to endure pain and suffering as well as lets us grieve differently. We look forward to a time when all believers will be united for the first and final time with Christ in the presence of God forever. When it comes to good times, the future serves as a reminder of how much more our life with God will be like. The New Heaven and the New Earth will be that much more.
Let us go forth and be encouraged by the future, not fearful of it. Knowing that God is sovereign lets us venture deep into time and life together. We are to labor for the cause of Christ in the present and live expectant lives that God will grow what he sees fit and that he will guide us always in ways that glorify him. To be content today means that tomorrow brings the same task, to trust and obey God. Trusting and obeying God today means that we are content because we have all that need in Christ. We are called to seek the Kingdom and his righteousness, Christ will take care of the rest. In this seeking, we are loving and looking for his righteousness in this world. The Holy Spirit enables us to love well and further the Gospel. The faith that is given to us was gifted for salvation and our sanctification. These are ultimately what we need in this life. With our present needs taken care of we can look into the future with confidence knowing that God is calling us to do the same thing there as he has called us to do today in the present, to love him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
I really enjoyed the “The Beauty of the Future” aspect as it relates to looking to our final redemption and being forever with the LORD and loved ones who have gone on before us. That truly is a part of us that separates us from the world because we do not have to sorrow as they sorrow. It also reminded me of Paul’s passage in 1 Thess 5, 4-11
“But as for you, brethren, you are not in darkness, that the day shall come upon you as a thief, for as all of you are sons of light you are sons of day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. So then, let us not go on sleeping as do the rest, but let us be constantly on the alert, and let us be mentally and spiritually well-balanced and self-controlled. For those who are sleeping, sleep in the night time, and those who are intoxicated, are intoxicated at night. But as for us who are of the day, let us be mentally and spiritually well-balanced and self-controlled, having clothed ourselves with a breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet, a hope of salvation, because as for us, God did not appoint us to wrath but to obtain salvation through our LORD Jesus Christ who died for us in order that whether we are awake [alive] or asleep [dead] we might live together with Him. Wherefore, be encouraging one another and be building one another up, one believer the other believer, even as also you are doing.”
That is what I believe your writings are doing today, encouraging believers to look up for their redemption draws nearer with each passing day. Praise God for He truly is LORD of all.