Seeing Into The Future

Forecasts, analysts, fortune cookies, and prophets all claim to see through a window into tomorrow. Humans say that they want to know what the future holds. I wonder if that is really true? Frequently we

choose to be ignorant of the trends that reveal what lies ahead. How many of us (me, included) choose to ignore warning signs in our bodies that signal a need for weight loss, diet change, or lifestyle adjustment? How many heavy smokers do you know that refuse to acknowledge that their habit will have a real negative effect on their health, even shortening their lifespan by years? I have, on too many occasions, known of a pending marriage failure, even as a young husband refused to see the warning signs.

On the dashboard of our automobiles there is a ‘check engine’ light. An onboard computer warns us that the engine is not functioning as it should. We have a choice. Go get it checked or ignore it. Some seem to think they have solved the problem by putting a piece of black tape over the indicator! Life is filled with warning indicators, and as much as we claim we want to know the future , many of us choose to ignore or even block them. When things go terribly wrong, we bitterly blame others or God for failing us. “How could He do this to me? Why do I have such awful ‘luck?’” To be sure, there are circumstances that come our way we could not foresee, things that happen to us for which we have no explanation, but largely life is what we choose to make of it.

And, yet, we know that God’s law of harvest is in effect. The Word says, "Remember that you can’t ignore God and get away with it. You will always reap what you sow! Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time. Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone, especially to our Christian brothers and sisters." (Galatians 6:7-10, NLT)

Memorize these principles about harvest:

   1. We will harvest of the seeds plant.

   2. We harvest only after we plant, in a different season.

   3. We will harvest more than we plant.

   4. We harvest in proportion to how much seed we plant.

Only a stupid farmer would expect to harvest wheat after planting acres of seed corn! A wise farmer plants his fields knowing that his investment of seed and labor is creating the future he desires. Are you showing that kind of wisdom? Are you investing yourself in the kind of efforts that will produce the future you desire?   You may object, “Jerry, there are too many things that could come between me and the harvest I desire. There are unanticipated storms, disasters, wars, acts of others over whom we have no control.” And you are right, except for one thing: the promise of God.

While we do not always know exactly what tomorrow’s harvest may be on this side of eternity we have an absolute assurance that what is invested in God will return an abundant harvest. "I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day." (2 Timothy 1:12, NIV) Jesus promised that the treasures we store in Heaven are not touched by moth, rust, or thieves! (Matthew 6: 20)

What’s in your future? You don’t need a crystal ball or a prophet. Just look at the seeds you’re planting.
Sow love, reap love.
Sow generosity, reap generosity.
Sow kindness, reap kindness.
Sow obedience to God, reap a rich reward of His blessings.

"Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and be wise! Even though they have no prince, governor, or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter." (Proverbs 6:6-8, NLT)

"If you are too lazy to plow in the right season, you will have no food at the harvest." (Proverbs 20:4, NLT)