Anticipation. What's ahead for me?

We are fascinated with the future.  We worry, we plan, we project. Some read their horoscope or use the occult to try to peer over time’s edge. I wonder what 2014 has in store for me and pray, quite honestly, it’s a better year than 2013!  

 There are two things that I believe which keep me on track.

First,  Jesus Christ secures the future. “Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” (Heb 12:1-2). He initiated faith in me, stirring me by the Spirit to respond and He is invested in bringing me to the finish line.  My (and yours, too) best hope for this new year is founded on the One who is Lord of All!  Am I a fatalist? Not at all.  He allows me to choose. I can choose poorly or selfishly and I will experience the consequences.  However that same principle works for our good, too. If we turn our hearts to Him, if we trust and obey,  we are settled on a Rock solid foundation.

Jesus explains it like this. “These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock. “But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards.” (Matthew 7:24-27, The Message)

Second, History has a fixed end!  God will bring all things to an end and provide justice at the Second Coming of Christ Jesus. Will this happen in 2014 or 500 years from now? I have no idea!  I do have the assurance that He will bring His reign and end Evil’s horrible run.  That truth is sobering and comforting. I may not be treated fairly by some. I may misunderstand and be misunderstood, but we hold to the promise that there will come a moment when everything is revealed, set right, and the glorious Kingdom of peace will come.  We know that "God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan." (Ephesians 1:9-11, NLT)

My Dad often said, “God’s payday is not Friday.”  The hope of the Kingdom to come, brought by faith to this present time, helps us to make the choices that honor Him.  Some choices are hard, many are costly, and some demand death to Self.  There are moments when we will face excruciatingly difficult decisions to invest in Heaven’s purposes, with no obvious benefit anywhere in sight!   Peter complained about cost of discipleship and Jesus answered him this way. “We left everything we owned and followed you, didn’t we?” “Yes,” said Jesus, “and you won’t regret it. No one who has sacrificed home, spouse, brothers and sisters, parents, children—whatever— will lose out. It will all come back multiplied many times over in your lifetime. And then the bonus of eternal life!” (Luke 18:28-30, The Message)  Pray for the faith to own that assurance in this new year. It is a key to following Him faithfully.

The blessing of the Father is the heritage of His beloved children.  As we step into a new year, let’s live like beloved children, not fearful; not distant, not reluctant to follow. Instead, let us take the promises to heart, loving Him and living in His care.  Here’s a familiar word from the Word. Make it yours today.

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him." (Matthew 7:7-11, NLT)

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Father, I thank you for forgiveness of my sin,

For freedom from guilt, and

For hope for this new year.

I pray for wisdom to see Your plan,

For courage to embrace it, and

Patience to realize the promise it holds.

You, Jesus Christ, are my hope, my joy, my peace.

In You, I am given ‘life to the full.’

Holy Spirit, may the gifts you give

Be used in my daily decisions so that

My life is profitable and honors my God.

Grow the fruit of your life in me,

Making it mature and beautiful  -

"love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."

May Your Kingdom come,

Your will be done,

On earth as it is in Heaven.
 

Amen