Facing The Future In Faith
How to Deal With An Unknown Future
Today we are going to conclude our series on Stressbusters. We are going to look at how to deal with an unknown future. How many of you remember what you were doing on morning of September 11, 2001? Do you remember what you were doing that morning?
I remember it was a warm morning here in Kansas. I had been out feeding my animals and had come in for breakfast. As I sitting down to eat breakfast I turned on the television – as I always do. The twin towers in New York City were on fire. Every so often they would cut away and show the Pentagon – also in flames.
I remember going to Topeka that afternoon and seeing lines at the gas stations. When I returned from Topeka I heard that there were lines at the gas station – even here in Burlingame. What a difference a day can make. People were frightened – the attack of New York caused a small panic even here in Kansas. Lots of people rushed out to fill up their gas tanks feeling that somehow that one small gesture would give them some small sense of security.
A lot of people spend their lives worrying about tomorrow. Will I have enough money for retirement? Will my health be good enough to enjoy my later years? Will I get the new job? Will I find the perfect man – or woman? They are so wrapped up with tomorrow that they never enjoy today because they fear of what the future may bring. Let’s look at Psalm 23:6.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever. Psalms 23:6 (NKJV)
In the 23rd Psalm there is no fear of the future. There is no anxiety – no worry about tomorrow. The author has confidence. The author has hope. You too can be free from anxiety, fear and worry. You too can live in confidence. Why? Let me give you three reasons:
1. God is watching OVER YOU.
When we have a personal relationship with God, we have a God who is concerned about us. He wants the best for us. He loves us. These are facts that you can find throughout the Bible. Most of you know Romans 8:28 read along with me.
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 (NKJV)
Why are all things working for our good? Because God cares of us. Because God protects us. Because God watches over us. Now let me say this plainly as I can – this promise is not for all people. In fact the verse says that this promise is only intended for: those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 (NKJV)
The Good Shepherd takes care of His own sheep. All things don’t work together for good for all the people in the world. That is not what this verse says. What it does say is that God watches out for His own. If you’re a believer, the Bible says, that all things are working for your good. Not everything is good – but God is able to cause all things to work for your good. Bad things happen to believers just as much as they happen to non-believer – but God is able to make good come out of it.
The greatest illustration about this fact is the crucifixion of Jesus.
God took one of the worst days in history – the day that Jesus Christ was crucified and made good come out of it. He took the execution of an innocent man – and brought us salvation by it. Look at what it says in Isaiah 53:
3 He was looked down on and passed over, a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand. One look at him and people turned away. We looked down on him, thought he was scum. 4 But the fact is, it was our pains he carried— our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us. We thought he brought it on himself, that God was punishing him for his own failures. 5 But it was our sins that did that to him, that ripped and tore and crushed him—our sins! He took the punishment, and that made us whole. Through his bruises we get healed. Isaiah 53:3-5 (MSG)
God was able to take an awful day – and turn it into a glorious day. This shows how big our God is. He can take the worst and make it the best. God watches over us – but that’s not all. If you know Jesus as your savior:
2. God is working IN YOU.
When you become a Christian – God Himself comes to live with you. He comes to live inside you. That is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit – the third person of the trinity comes and lives inside you. Look at what it says in Romans 8:
8 Those whose lives are in the flesh are unable to please God. 9 You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God lives in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. Romans 8:8-9 (HCSB)
One of the clear signs of being a Christian is that the Holy Spirit – God’s Spirit – has come to live with you.
Cathy and I received a call a couple weeks ago that our second oldest son is going to be moving here to Kansas. That is good news. He has been living over in Colorado Springs for the past few years and has decided to move closer to family. During his transition time we’ll open up our home to him and he’ll live with us. Do you think this will change our lives some? Sure it will. We’ll be able to see each other every day. We’ll be able to talk to each other every day. We’ll be able to get to know each other better. We’ll be able to grow closer together – because we’ll be living in the same home.
That’s how it is when the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in you. He is there so you can get to know God better. He is there to influence your life. Do you know how He influences your life – with goodness and mercy. Look at Psalm 23 again.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life. Psalms 23:6 (NKJV)
Let talk just a minute about Shepherding. Did you know there is a difference between a rancher and a shepherd? A rancher drives cattle – a shepherd leads sheep. The rancher is behind the cows – the shepherd is in the front. If you were in the Middle East you would see shepherds out on the hills leading their sheep. You would also see sheep dogs coming up behind the sheep helping to keep them in the flock. Goodness and mercy are like those sheep dogs. They follow behind keeping the sheep in line. Keeping the sheep safe so they don’t get lost.
We dwell with the Shepherd – actually He dwells in us. And goodness and mercy are there to help us from straying.
The third point I want to talk about this morning is that you don’t have to fear the future because.
3. God has prepared a place FOR YOU.
If you are a Christian three things have changed in your life. Your sins have been forgiven, you have a purpose for living, and you have a home in Heaven. Look at the 23rd Psalm again.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever. Psalms 23:6 (NKJV)
This is one of the most important connections we see in the Bible. It connects the present with the future. It connects today with tomorrow. I just don’t have today – I have forever. Follow along with me as I read from 2 Corinthians 5:1:
For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 Corinthians 5:1 (NKJV)
I want you to circle two words for me. The first is “tent” and the second is “building.” Paul is talking about the physical body. That which we dwell in now is a “tent”. What is a tent – it is a temporary structure. It is designed to be lived in for a short period of time. I’ll be honest with you. I lived in a tent for five months – that is because I’m in the military and I lived in a tent for five months in Iraq back in 1991. But the tent was designed as a temporary shelter. A building is not.
Paul is saying that what we have right now is a temporary shelter – but God has a permanent home for us. It will be a home not made with human hands it will be an eternal home in heaven.
We’re going to be released from pain, from sorrow, from suffering, from depression, from fear. The Bible says He will wipe away all the tears from our eyes, and there will be no more pain, no sorrow, no crying, not even any more death. Isn’t that good news? This earthly body will be replaced with a heavenly body. This tent will be replaced with a home. Look with me at Philippians 1:21:
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21
I did a funeral sermon not too long ago and I spoke about four things that a Christian gains when they die – they are all blessing. Let me give them to you now.
Blessing #1: We Gain AN INCREDIBLE LIFE.
In this present body we are subject to disappointments of life. We are subject to the growing process of life as well as the aging process. Sometimes we are healthy sometimes we get sick. Sometimes we feel pleasure sometimes we feel pain. Sometimes we are happy sometimes there is sorrow. When we get to heaven it will not be that way.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Revelation 21:4 (NKJV)
We will no long experience life as we once knew it. We will be different.
Blessing #2: We Gain AN ETERNAL LIFE.
All of us live in a world where family relationships change. Mother is gone or Father is gone. Uncles and Aunts – Grandparents – they all grow older and die. But that does not happen in Heaven. There is no ageing process. There is no death. We live forever. Most of know John 3:16 – but how often do we really trust in the last phrase of that verse?
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16 (NKJV)
Blessing #3: We Gain A GLORIOUS HOME.
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No matter how beautiful and elaborate your home my be in this world it is nothing compared with the home God has prepared for us.
1 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:1-3 (NKJV)
Blessing #4: We Gain PERFECTION.
How can I say this? Because the Bible teaches that we “Become Just Like Christ” when we go to heaven with Him and see Him face to face. What is Christ like? He is perfect.
Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 1 John 3:2 (NKJV)
We shall see Him in all of His perfection. We shall see Him in all of His glory. We shall become like Him.
Do you know for sure that you will live forever in Heaven? Right now at this moment you can know for sure. Here is what you need to do:
1. ADMIT that God has not had first place in your life and that you have sinned.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from every wrong.” 1 John 1:9
2. BELIEVE that Jesus died for your sins.
“If you confess that Jesus is your Lord, and you believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9
3. ACCEPT God’s free gift of salvation.
“For it is by grace you are saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8, 9
4. INVITE Jesus to come into your life and take control.
“To all who receive Him, He gives the right to become children of God. All we need to do is to trust Him to save us. All those who believe this are reborn! — not a physical rebirth...but from the will of God!” John 1:12-13
1The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever. Psalms 23:1-6 (NKJV)
